The Lantern - April 2018 by Presentation High School

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LANTERN Presentation High School Parent Newsletter | April 2018

Perhaps, though, the greatest example of “resurrection and hope” came from our keynote speaker on Student Development Day. Jessica (Class of 2001) told her story to our student body. “I am supposed to explain to you how I became a survivor, rather than a victim, of domestic abuse and sexual assault.” When she was a junior in high school, she was drugged and raped by a stranger, and the scars of that experience were acutely visible for years. But hers is an Easter story! I believe it important to hear some of the insights she shared with your daughters: “The truth is that no matter what type of pain you have gone through in your life—and all of us, not just those who have been assaulted, are wounded and live through pain—no amount of advice will help you until you come to understand and really know one simple, fundamental fact. And that is that your worth as a young woman, as a person, is immeasurable and immutable.” “It means that we are loved, infinitely. That not a single wound, no matter how miniscule, goes unseen or unattended to by God... what happened to me was a crime; it was not my fault and did not make me any less deserving of goodness or happiness or God’s—or anybody else’s—love. Dear Parents and Friends of Presentation, It is no small irony that Easter this year fell on April Fool’s Day. Seemingly blasphemous at first glance, perhaps it is not. For believers all over the world, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a joke; it is no hoax; it is the solemn promise that death does not win but rather is the gateway to eternal life. Each year, I am reminded with great joy what a promise this is. It has been a long winter, and we are in need of spring. It is here, and we only need to look around. The daffodils and tulips are in bloom, the trees have buds, the grass is green—the earth is awakening as it does each year. Signs of hope are everywhere! Last month we saw at Pres so many signs of what Camus called “invincible spring.” The entire student body came together to raise funds for the Presentation missions in Central America—to give hope to the poor and vulnerable. We welcomed the new arrivals— the Class of 2022—who brought with them the spirit of new beginnings and promise. Our students marched in solidarity with the youth all over the country to bring forth a new message: we demand change and an end to gun violence. Hundreds of Pres donors gave generously on our crowd funding Day of Giving to show their support for the students of Pres; in one day, over $140,000 was raised.

“The most dangerous consequence of silence is that you will transfer the burden of shame onto yourself instead of onto your attacker, where it wholly and rightly belongs...Because the truth— always—is that it is not your fault; It is never your fault. Believing this...is the surest way of survival.” “The only way out of pain is through the pain.” “I will not stand here and tell you that all hardship is a gift, because I struggle still with understanding all the suffering in the world. But I can promise you, because I know from experience, that it is through suffering that we are broken and remade into stronger, more compassionate people. It is through suffering that we learn our own endurance and our own capacity to love.” Thank you, Jessica, for your insightful message of hope and resurrection God Bless you all; have a safe and relaxing Easter break. Mary Miller ’72 Principal

Parent Board

Attendance Office

That bright, warm (and oh so familiar) object in the sky is a sure sign that the 2017-18 school year is winding down. But have no fear there are still plenty of activities to finish the year off strong. First up is the 2018 edition of the Presentation fashion show, Lighting the Way. What started with a couple of sewing machines and a handful of models has morphed into a spectacular production that is the main fund raiser for the Endowment for Financial Aid. Everyone is invited to participate, by attending—either the lunch or dinner show—making a donation or volunteering to help out on the day of the show. You can purchase tickets on line or find more information at www.presentationhs. org/events/fashion-show. Students are encouraged to attend and sit in the Student Gallery.

With spring semester in full swing, please take note of a few attendance reminders. If your daughter misses 15 minutes or more from class, she will be marked absent. Please be sure to send her with a note to the Attendance Office if this occurs. Also, as a precaution for staying healthy, remind your daughter to wash her hands and use hand sanitizer dispensers around campus. She should avoid sharing drinks or food with her friends and she should cough into her elbow. This will keep those germs at bay! Remember, by law, the school cannot dispense medication. Your daughter may carry Advil, Tylenol, Midol, cough drops, etc. in her backpack to use as needed.

By Matt Sunseri | Parent Board President |matt.sunseri1@yahoo.com

Next up is the incoming Freshman BBQ. Remember your first time? Help these incoming Freshman families feel the love by volunteering to help serve, bartend or bbq. You can sign up at phsevents.ivolunteer.com. Finally, the annual Presentation Golf Tournament will be held on Friday May 11 at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club. It’s an amazing golf course and excellent event for all levels of golfers to get together and enjoy the afternoon. Even if you’re not a golfer, you can lend a hand in many other ways! Please contact Mattie Pasion at mpasion@presentationhs.org if you would like to help. Details and tickets are available on the Pres web site under the Events tab. Thank you, Matt Sunseri Parent Board President

By Catherine Furtado | Attendance Secretary and Registrar

Please remember to call the Attendance Office by 9 a.m. if your daughter is coming to school late or is absent. When she returns to school, the first thing she must do is bring a note from you to the Attendance Office. If your daughter has a planned absence, please send her with an absent note to the Attendance Office ahead of time, that way she won’t need to turn one in when she returns. In the rare instance when your daughter needs to leave school for an appointment, send her to the Attendance Office before school begins with a note from you stating the reason she needs to leave campus and the time of her dismissal. She will be given an early dismissal notice from the Attendance Secretary, Ms. Furtado. She can leave at the stated time on the early dismissal slip. If you have any questions, please contact the Attendance Office at (408) 266-1060 or email Ms. Furtado: cfurtado@presentationhs.org.

College Counseling

By MaryLynne Rodriguez | Director of College Counseling As May first looms closer, National College Decision Day can become a prominent topic of conversation in many households, and the halls of Presentation are no exception. The United States map will be hung on the wall just outside of our offices, and excited seniors stream in and out, writing their name and college destination on a flag to pin for all to see. Underclassmen hover around the display seeing the opportunities our students have ahead of them, waiting for the moment to be theirs one day. There are many important decisions to be made leading up to this rite of passage. The cost of attendance, the quality of the academic programs, and campus safety are oftentimes the leading discussion points. While well intentioned family members and friends may have their own opinions (college rankings, perceived reputation, etc.), the student, with parental support and guidance is the primary decision maker. Well intentioned “advice” will certainly be given, whether asked for or not. This can lead to a student feeling confused or disappointed with their college options, if they begin comparing themselves to their peers, cousins, or older siblings. While an exciting time, it can be an equally sensitive one as well. As parents of seniors, we The Lantern | April 2018

extend to you our gratitude to you for being your daughter’s support system. You helped them navigate a process that has been both trying and rewarding, leading up to this culminating month. We want our students to be proud of their choices, and your voice is the primary one they hear as they arrive at the finish line. Thank you for providing a voice of reason and support; their sense of pride is a direct result of your own. The College Counseling Department will celebrate our seniors’ trials and tribulations with what we fondly call the “Sweet Senior Shred.” Held on May 3 at lunch in the courtyard, the seniors are invited to shred the denials and rejection letters they received during the college admissions process. Each shred is accompanied by an ice cream bar to congratulate students on their college choices. We hope this simple act conveys our department’s unending support and sense of pride in our students and the variety of paths they will embark upon. We hope you can create your own “sweet senior shred” moment with your daughter--one you will fondly look back together upon for years to come.

Fashion Show: Lighting the Way Lunch show begins at 11 a.m. | Dinner show begins at 6 p.m. Don’t miss Lighting the Way Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. This year is the 52nd anniversary of the fashion show! Reservations are now open: www.presentationhs.org/fashionshow Living the school motto, “Not Words, But Deeds,” the show brings together our Presentation family, faculty, friends and fashions from local and national stores with the purpose of raising funds for the Endowment for Financial Aid. One of the show’s most popular segments premieres the work of talented student designers, who sketch and sew their own creations. This segment features the girls and their designs. Everyone is invited to be a part of the show – here are fun ways you can get involved: Attend the Show Reservations are required for both shows, and can be made online using the Presentation website. Students can sit in the Student Gallery during the dinner show. Become a Show Sponsor Secure preferred runway seating, enjoy fine wine, and other exciting benefits when you sponsor a table at the lunch or dinner show. It’s not too late to sponsor or underwrite the event. Sponsorships are a great tax deduction! Buy Benefit Raffle Tickets Fashion show is a fundraiser! One way it raises funds is through the Benefit Raffle. Tickets cost $40 each, or 5 for $125 and 10 for $225! Three fun packages, filled with exhilarating items including a Bear Valley Experience, including skiing, Los Gatos Spa, with wine tasting, hotel and dinner package, stunning earrings and champagne. All will be raffled off during the dinner show. You do not need to be present to win. Volunteer Behind-the-Runway Learn more about the fashion show and have fun while helping out as a backstage dresser, props assistant or Grande Finale host. Check out ivolunteer to see what positions are available. A big shout out to our generous store partners – BCBG Max Azaria, Bella James, Bettina’s of Los Gatos, Bombshell Boutique, Chico’s, Francesca’s, Eli Thomas, GAP, Ibiss, Kendra Scott Jewelry, Kitsch Couture, Penelope Boutique, Superdry and White House | Black Market. When you’re shopping, please be sure to thank them for their continued support of Presentation! For more information, to make reservations or donations, visit the Lighting the Way Fashion Show web page, www.presentationhs.org/ fashionshow. See you at the show! www.presentationhs.org

Counseling

By Catherine Furtado | Attendance Secretary and Registrar With summer on the horizon (or just the slight glimpse of a light at the end of the tunnel), students are looking for something to do during the summer months. Whether your daughter is applying to summer internship programs, summer jobs, summer classes, or whatever activity she chooses to participate in; Pres can help make the application process a bit easier! When it comes time for your daughter to fill out her application for the program, no need to worry when the application requires an official transcript, she can order it online. The transcript request form can be found on the Presentation website under Academics, Transcript Requests. Please note each transcript is $2 and the request will be processed when payment is received. When filling out the request form be sure your daughter is thorough and writes the exact address where the transcript should be sent. Also, please allow 24 hours for the request to be filled. If you or your daughter have any questions about the transcript process, please email Ms. Furtado at cfurtado@presentationhs.org. Knowing and learning the process of requesting a transcript will come in handy when it comes time for your daughter to apply to colleges. She will be ahead of the game, which hopefully will make the stress of college applications a little bit lighter!

Community Involvement By Lindsay Swoboda | Director of Community Involvement

This past February eight students traveled to Tacoma, Washington and seven students traveled to Los Angeles to participate in one of CI's immersion trips. While in Tacoma students volunteered at L'Arche Tacoma Hope, a community that is home for individuals with and without severe developmental disabilities. This immersion trip provided students an opportunity to engage with our brothers and sisters through community-building activities and daily farm work. In Los Angeles, students volunteered at the Presentation Learning Center teaching English as a Second Language classes and served meals every night at different soup kitchens. Below are reflections from students that attended the trips. For more information on our immersion visit the Presentation website. Applications for CI Immersion trips for the 2018-19 school year will be available in April. “Throughout our few short days in Los Angeles, we met many amazing people who were open to share with us their interesting stories and backgrounds, especially at one organization, Midnight Mission. This organization, a shelter in Skid Row, focuses on providing meals and rehabilitation programs that aim to guide people towards a more stable life. I was deeply impressed by our tour guide, Daniel, who mentioned he had previously lost contact with his family and was on the verge of homelessness due to his substance abuse issues. Through the sobriety programs at Midnight Mission and a phone call to his daughter, Daniel has a job at the organization and is slowly regaining contact with his family after only 54 days of sobriety. Daniel is a true example of the effectiveness and importance of organizations like Midnight Mission in our communities to bring actual change for those needing assistance.” Lauren Thoen ’18 The Lantern | April 2018

"Growing up in an area that is so competitive and focused on success, I welcomed the change of pace at L'Arche, where the community radiated positivity and supported one another. At L'Arche, we were focused on the varying abilities of individuals, who are all valuable and needed to make the community. I learned that people with developmental disabilities are disadvantaged and often misunderstood. It is extremely important to not shy away from people with developmental disabilities in fear of offending them or saying something wrong. Rather, they are valuable people in the world, and who are to be treated with respect and dignity." Brooke Doblar ’18

Club Spotlight: Robotics By Jeanne Mullins | Club Moderator

The Robotics Build Season kicked off on Jan. 6 with the announcement of the new FIRST FRC Challenge: PowerUp. With an 8-bit video game theme, the new game requires the robot to pick up and place power-up cubes to turn on switches and to weigh down a giant scale for points. The robot also needs to be able to “climb” 12 inches above the ground by hanging on a rod at the top of the scale. The Robotics team only had six weeks to design and build the robot! The girls were involved in all aspects of the robot, including manufacturing team-designed parts in our Jenvey House machine shop using the CNC mill, CNC router, and lathe machine tools. They also assembled the robot, wired it up and wrote the software to control it.

Campus Ministry

By Claire Hansen | Director of Campus Ministry Lent has been a busy season for Campus Ministry. We have had one Confirmation Conference, two liturgies, three class level retreats, and our process of recruiting next year’s student leadership team is well under way. In addition to this “busyness”, the deeper business of Lent is to offer our hearts to God in prayer. We hope all of these experiences have been opportunities for our students do return to God and renew their hearts. Applications for next year’s Peer Ministry program are due April 13! Peer Ministry is a faith building and leadership program offered once a month though the Campus Ministry office. Anyone can apply - people of all faiths and those who are questioning their faith are welcome. We serve the school by leading retreats, liturgies, prayer services. More importantly, we seek to grow in our own understanding of who God is and where God is present for each of us. Peer Ministry is a safe space to talk about faith, ask questions, and find friendships across all grade levels.

In March the team competed with the new robot at two Regional events: Arizona North Regional (in Flagstaff, AZ) and Silicon Valley Regional (in San Jose). At the time this article was written, the team had just returned from the Arizona North Regional, where we competed with 60 teams, including teams from the Netherlands and from Mexico. We brought 24 girls to this event, and it was a good learning experience to help us be ready for the Silicon Valley Regional in late March. Everyone worked very hard, got little sleep, and had a great time. We are ironing the kinks out of the robot and expect it to be very competitive at the SVR event. The team submitted two student nominations for the FIRST Dean's List Award at the Arizona North Regional. This award recognizes sophomores and juniors for outstanding leadership and promotion of FIRST values. Our two nominees were Samantha Yang and Anjali Sinha. Each nomination required an essay from the mentors and then each nominee was interviewed at this event. It is an honor to be nominated for this prestigious award and the mentors felt both girls were excellent Dean's List candidates. The Regional event judges selected Anjali to be a Dean's List Finalist! This means she will compete in late April at the FRC World Championships in Houston against the Dean's List Finalists from all the other FRC events, for the Houston Dean's List Award Winner. The team is very excited that she is a finalist!

On April 9-10 juniors will have their last opportunity to go on retreat. With the beautiful Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos as a backdrop, the students will have the chance to reflect on the gifts and blessings in their lives as they travel along their “Sacred Journey.” They will focus on prayer and discuss spirituality that will further develop individual relationships with God. They also will reflect on student talks and how these topics relate to their lives. The talks include “Finding God in All Things,” “Woman of Faith,” and “Woman of Integrity.” Finally, keep an eye out for our Retreat Registration Forms, which will be mailed to the homes of next year’s sophomores, juniors, and seniors. There are two retreat dates for each grade level. These retreats are free and open to students of all faith traditions. They are popular and fill up quickly so be sure to turn in your forms by the end of May.

Presentation Robotics Team at Arizona North Regional in early March, with their robot, “Felix."

www.presentationhs.org

Modern Language By Sharon Iorgulescu | Department Chair

French and Spanish students are soon wrapping up current courses and preparing for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offerings. French students continue to prepare for their June trip to France to meet up with their French friends made from their yearly January visit to Pres. Students and chaperones are looking forward to traveling to Spain this summer for a cultural and educational exchange in Salamanca and Seville, Spain.

The Seal encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills our students attain, and can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices. Currently, eight hard-working Seniors are diligently working on their culminating projects in their studied languages here at Pres, including one student who will receive the Seal of Biliteracy in Mandarin as an example of outside heritage language study.

Record numbers of Pres students are taking fours years of these respective languages offered in our curriculum - great news for the department and for passionate language students! This year, we are preparing to honor our first recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy offered through the State of California. Our state is the first in the nation to offer this honor and many other states are following our lead.

We teachers will evaluate the projects as a panel and are very excited to learn about the chosen cultural themes of these projects as the students transform themselves into our teachers and we into their students. We look forward to celebrating the receipt of this award with their families in late April.

The Seal of Biliteracy is a California concept that is now offered in 32 states, with legislation in the works in all remaining states but five. The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.

As a general rule in California, the Seal is intended for public school students. Through our local office, Santa Clara County (SCCOOE) of education and with our persistence, we are proud to share that Presentation High School has been given permission to offer the Seal of Biliteracy to our students and look forward to growing the program in the future.

Dance Team Hey Panthers! The Dance Team went all the way to Florida in order to compete at the Contest of Champions Nationals, which took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. They took 1st in Character, 2nd in medium jazz, 2nd in large lyrical, 3rd in x-small jazz, and 3rd in medium lyrical. Not to mention their character routine received a choreography award which was choreographed by their very own coach and the schools dance teacher, Mrs. Fugate. Overall it was such a successful trip. Coming up, dance team will be teaching a Middle School dance camp, which starts March 20 from 4-6 p.m. in the dance studio. Anyone who is in middle school is welcome to this program. They will have the opportunity to learn a dance alongside the dance team and will perform at the schools Spring Dance Concert. The Middle The Lantern | April 2018

School program will be from May 9-11, and dress rehearsal is May 8. Hope to see you there! Spring Dance Concert will be held on May 9-11 in the Valenzuela Theater. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this opportunity to see our Dance Team, Dance Company, Curricular Dance Classes and After School Dance Classes perform. Tickets will go on sale April 16, this show does sell out! Dance Team Auditions will be held the week of May 14 for the 2018-2019 school year. Parent and Dancer meeting on May 14 at 6 p.m. in the Library, Dance Clinic May 15-17 from 4-6 p.m. in the dance studio and auditions on May 18 starting at 4 p.m. For more information email Sara Fugate at sfugate@presentationhs.org.

Athletics

By Stacey Mallison | Athletic Director Hello Panthers! Our basketball and soccer teams had spectacular seasons! Both teams qualified for the CCS tournament in the Open Division. Soccer earned an overall record of 14-3-3 and finished in 2nd place in the WCAL. They were the #7 seed in the CCS Open Division and lost to #2 seed Mountain View in the first round game. Freshman standout goalkeeper, Lauren Zontos, was named WCAL Goalkeeper of the Year with her stellar and consistent play this season – and for her 10 shut-outs on the season. Lauren Zontos was also named Presentation’s Athlete of the Month for February. The basketball team finished in 2nd place in the WCAL with their overall record of 20-4. They earned the #3 seed for the CCS Open Division and beat Menlo in the first round then lost to #2 seed Pinewood in the CCS semi-finals. In basketball, all teams who qualify for the CCS Open have the opportunity to advance to the NorCal tournament; we received the #1 seed in Division 1 of NorCals and beat James Logan and Cosumnes Oaks in our first round games. We advanced to the NorCal semi-finals and lost to #4 seed Miramonte. Congratulations to the basketball team on their spectacular season! Ava Williams was named Presentation’s Athlete of the Month for February. Congratulations to the following girls who earned WCAL All-League honors for basketball: Ava Williams (1st team), Sharon Roldan (1st team), Akemi Namba (2nd team), Carla Pelino (Honorable Mention), Kelly Heimburger (Honorable Mention). Congratulations to the following soccer players who earned a spot on the WCAL All-League team: Amanda Avila (1st team), Jayne Cowell (1st team), Jordan Karr (1st team), Devin Ferguson (2nd team), Sofia Martin (2nd team), Lauren Zontos (2nd team and WCAL Goalkeeper of the Year). I am also happy to announce the Athletic Department’s Volunteer of the Year recipient is Dr. Anthony Saglimbeni. Dr. Saglimbeni has been heavily involved with the Athletic Department for over 10 years. He has been our volunteer team physician and helped us to start our Sports Physicals Night that we host every May. Dr. Saglimbeni also makes a generous donation every year to help fund the Training Room. He helped to bring the ImPACT test, which is a Concussion Management tool, to Presentation to help us manage and monitor our student-athletes who have sustained a concussion. Dr. Saglimbeni has been a tremendously helpful volunteer for the Athletic Department; in addition to the financial contributions he has made to the Athletic Department, he has also been a great medical resource for our the Athletic Department staff and our student-athletes. Also, save the date: May 21 is Presentation’s Sports Physicals Night from 6-9 p.m. in the Gym.

Varsity Home Games Swimming & Diving Thursday, April 19 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral | 3 p.m.

Lacrosse Saturday, April 14 vs. Archbishop Mitty | 1 p.m. Monday, April 16 vs. Lincoln High School | 5:30 p.m.

Softball Tuesday, April 10 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral | 4 p.m. Friday, April 20 vs. Marin Catholic | 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 vs. Archbishop Mitty | 4 p.m.

Track & Field Track & Field meets are held at Bellarmine Wednesday, April 11 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral | 3 p.m.

www.presentationhs.org

April 2018 SUNDAY

Easter Easter Vacation

MONDAY

TUESDAY

LAMP Mtg., 26-9 p.m., 3 Jenvey House

Easter Vacation

Lantern League Steering Committee Mtg., 12-1:30 p.m., Basile House Fashion Show Grand Finale Rehearsal, 4-8 p.m., MAC FS Designer Final Fitting/Dress Approval, 4-6 p.m., Room 24

Working, the Musical, 2-4:30 p.m., Theater

Easter Vacation

16 Confirmation Mtg., 6:45-8:30 p.m., MAC

FS Model Segment Training, 3-9 p.m., MAC

Golf Tournament Mtg., 6:30 p.m., Library

Working, the Musical, 2-4:30 p.m., Theater

Easter Vacation

FRIDAY

Easter Vacation

23 Leadership Academy Workshops, 1-3 p.m.

30Honors Evening,

Seal of Biliteracy, 7-8:30 p.m., MSC

24 Board of Trustees Mtg., 3:30-5 p.m., Library

Young Alum Board Mtg., Basketball Awards Night, 5-9 p.m., MSC 6-8 p.m., Jenvey House Parent Board Mtg., 7-9 p.m., Library

FS Model 18Segment Training, 3-9 p.m., MAC

Alumnae Council, 6-8 p.m., Jenvey House

Financial Aid Night for TADA! Board Mtg., Junior Parents, 6:30 p.m., Reception Room 7-8:30 p.m., Theater

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

Easter Vacation

Fashion Show Mtg., 7-9 p.m., Library

WEDNESDAY

Mandatory Sophomore College Counseling Collaboration, 1:15-2 p.m., Theater

Incoming Frosh BBQ, 5:30-9 p.m.

Booster Board Mtg., 7-9 p.m., Library

FS Model Segment Training, 3-9 p.m., MAC

College Admissions Case Studies, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Francis High School

ASB Spring Event, 3-6 p.m., MAC Math & Science Colloquium, 7-8:30 p.m., MSC

Fashion Show Executive Mtg., 8-11 a.m., Basile House

Working, the Musical, 7:30-10 p.m., Theater

Working, the Musical Gala, 5-7:15 p.m., MSC Working, the Musical 7:30-10 p.m., Theater

20 Fashion Show Rehearsal, 4-10 p.m., Santa Clara Convention Center

Fashion Show Santa Clara Convention Center

Working, the Musical, 7:30-10 p.m., Theater

28 Student Holiday

For complete calendar visit www.presentationhs.org/calendar

APRIL 2018 Presentation High School The Lantern 2281 Plummer Avenue San Jose, CA 95125