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LANTERN Presentation High School Parent Newsletter | March 2017
Parent Board
Community Involvement
It has been an eventful start to the year. Career Day had our girls thinking about their futures while the juniors and seniors are making plans for college. There’s a quote from John Lennon that I like to think about during these crazy days, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” It’s exciting (and a little nerve-wracking) to see them approach these milestones but, sooner than we think, we’ll be dropping them off at college. In all the flurry of their activities, it’s all the more important to take time to enjoy them today.
"Not Words, But Deeds” are four simple words that, when put into action, have the potential to change the world. This heartfelt motto governs the actions of our students and faculty every day, but it holds special significance during the six weeks of Lent.
By Joel Dibble | Parent Board President | jcdibble17@gmail.com
In addition to helping our girls prepare for the future, the Parent Board has been busy with several events. This year’s Mardi Grasthemed Crab Feed topped the list. Our thanks to the army of volunteers who made it a smashing success! Also on the list in late January was Principal Mary Miller’s annual State of the School presentation. Among other interesting statistics regarding the school’s performance, Ms. Miller announced Presentation received more than 500 applications from prospective students this year– the largest number in the school’s history!
By Lindsay Swoboda
During Lent, Presentation holds its annual Mission Drive—a series of fundraisers benefiting the Sisters of the Presentation who live and serve in Nicaragua and Guatemala. Each fundraiser—from bake sales to movie nights and concerts—is planned and carried out by our students.
With all the rain we’re experiencing, it’s easy to forget we’re nearing the midway point of the spring semester. That means the annual fashion show is quickly approaching. With the event scheduled for April 7, students will be asking for your support in the sale of pre-show raffle tickets, advertising and show sponsorship, or you can put your passion for fashion to work as a fashion show volunteer. All proceeds benefit the Endowment for Financial Aid which provides scholarships to deserving young women. If fashion isn’t your passion, there still are a few more days to sign up for the annual Father-Daughter dance on March 3. In addition to costume and dance contests, dads can challenge their daughters to games including giant Jenga, ping pong and mini golf. We hope you'll join us for this memorable evening!
Proceeds from Mission Drive have a real and immediate impact on the communities in which our Sisters serve. In Nicaragua, Sister Rachel Pinal directs Mission Drive funds to two low-income schools. In years past, funds have been used to purchase books and laptops for teachers as well as shoes for students who walk several miles to school each day. Mission Drive has also paid for necessary repairs including a new roof on a classroom, air conditioning for the computer room and new flooring in a church. In Guatemala, Sister Ellen Cafferty has used Mission Drive funds to purchase hygiene items, medicine, clothes, food and Bibles. While these schools and communities are far from San Jose, the recipients of our donations are no different than us. Those we serve in Nicaragua and Guatemala long for simple shelter, the dignity of work, education for their children, and the ability to live healthy lives. During these six weeks, let these similarities bring us closer together so that we may extend our love to our brothers and sisters in need.
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The Lantern | March 2017
Campus Ministry By Claire Hansen
Would your daughter like to join Peer Ministry for the 2017-2018 school year? Peer Ministry is a program that meets once a month for friendship, prayer, small group faith sharing and relaxation. Any current freshman, sophomore or junior may apply. We welcome students of all faiths. Peer Ministry students have the opportunity to gain leadership experience through leading younger students on their class level retreats. Applications for next year’s Peer Ministry team will be due Friday, March 24. Please encourage your daughter to apply! Would your daughter like to participate in liturgical ministry? Student volunteers are needed to altar serve, minister the eucharist and lector. Training is available. Interested students should contact Claire Hansen at chansen@presentationhs.org. Upcoming Masses: March 1: Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Miller Athletic Complex, 11 a.m. March 22: Junior Class Liturgy and Ring Ceremony, Miller Athletic Complex, 1 p.m.
Finally, Lent begins on March 1. Here are some ideas to help your family engage meaningfully in the Lenten season. • Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Every Catholic church in Santa Clara County will be open from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays during Lent. • Sign up to receive a daily reflection in your email (one example is “Living Lent Daily” from www.LoyolaPress.com) • Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. • Make the Stations of the Cross at home or in a parish celebration. • Pray with the Seven Penitential Psalms (Psalm 6, 31, 50, 101, 129 and 142). • Spend some time in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. • Abstain from meat for an extra day or two each week. • Listen to spiritual music or a spiritual speaker.
Upcoming Retreats: March 2: Sophomore Retreat, Presentation Retreat Center March 16-17: Senior Retreat, Jesuit Retreat Center www.presentationhs.org 3
Transcripts 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 or summer classes, Pres can make the process a little bit easier! If your daughter needs an official transcript sent to a summer program, please have her fill out the official transcript request form found on our Presentation website under Academics, Transcript Requests. Please be sure she fills out the form for current students. Each transcript is $2. Once payment is received, the transcript request will be processed. Please allow 24 hours for the request to be filled. We send the transcript directly to the program or institution; official transcripts are not given to students. If your daughter ever needs an unofficial transcript, please have her email Ms. Furtado at cfurtado@presentationhs.org to request a copy. Her mentor has a copy as well. 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!
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The Lantern | March 2017
College Counseling
By MaryLynne Rodriguez | College Counseling Department Chair In late winter and early spring, the College Counseling Department becomes inundated with inquiries from students and families who, themselves, are inundated with various solicitations. Taking the form of special invitations or honors recognitions, these solicitations are, more often than not, marketing ploys that come at a cost. We urge our students and families to read the fine print. Oftentimes, these solicitations include invitations to attend seminars or allude to nominations from teachers or counselors. In actuality, these are "pay to play" programs, open to any student who can pay the fee. Names are purchased, with "invitations" sent to thousands of students each year. Honors listings, nominations and special invitations are enticing but have no bearing on the college admissions process. Legitimate programs to help students learn about majors and careers are available at little to no cost, with resources readily available online at Naviance and College Board. If a student is interested in participating in a program, internship or summer job, Mr. Fred Crary in our Career Exploration Office (CEO) is available for one-on-one meetings. Students may also visit the Internships and University Programs section of the Presentation website to look at a variety of opportunities available to them. CEO resources are available at no cost to our students and their families. For further reading about "pay to play" programs, visit the College Counseling blog on the Presentation website.
Attendance
English Department
We are well into our school year with classes, homework and co-curricular activities. It is important for students to be at school and on time. 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, to stay healthy, remind your daughter to wash her hands and use hand sanitizer dispensers around campus. 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.
Writing skills will help you no matter what career you choose. In various forms, this was the message of many of our 73 graduates who returned on Career Day to share their experiences in tech, healthcare, law, art, or business. The English Department still pursues its vigorous program of writing, speaking and reading. Lately we are especially encouraging students to read for fun over the holidays, providing shelves of contemporary titles for them to choose from. And love of Shakespeare is still strong at Pres, as 40 students head to Ashland, Oregon, on the department-sponsored trip in April to see plays such as Julius Caesar and Shakespeare in Love.
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.
SEAS
By Catherine Furtado '06 | Registrar
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.
By Marcy Ray | English Department Chair
SEAS (Student Environmental Action Society) kicked off 2017 with a renewed commitment to conservation and advocacy. In February, a record number of students attended the annual SEAS veggie potluck, which encourages students to lower their carbon footprint by eating sustainably. Later this month, SEAS will head to Little Basin State Park for the second annual SEAS camping trip, a bonding activity for the whole club that includes night hikes, sing-a-longs and crafting. Finally, SEAS will celebrate Earth Week celebration in April with five theme days focused on environmental awareness and conservation.
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Panther Pride Announcements Students at Pres continue to shine! Check out the accomplishments of our programs and teams this past month: Dance Team The Presentation Dance Team’s competition season is now in full swing. So far, the team has placed first in each of its categories at all three of its competitions. West Coast Elite Dance Competition First Place: Team Categories • Small Lyrical • Large Lyrical (including “Best Technique” award) • Intermediate Jazz • Elite Dance • Large Hip-Hop • Small Contemporary • Character (including “Best Choreography” award) Solo Awards • Mallory Andresen ’17 (First Place Senior Solo; First Place Overall) • Tess Skulich ’17 (Second Place Senior Solo; Fifth Place Overall) • Emily Schultz ’19 (Fourth Place Senior Solo) • Megan Maasberg ’17 (Fifth Place Senior Solo) Forte Dance Showcase First Place: Team Categories • X-Small Dance • Small Lyrical • Character • Large Lyrical • Small Dance USA Regionals First Place: Team Categories • X-Small Dance • Small Lyrical • Large Lyrical
• Small Dance • Large Dance • Character
Solo Awards • Mallory Andresen ’17 (Second Place Solo)
Speech and Debate Congratulations to the following students on the Speech and Debate team for their performances at the Coast Forensic League Individual Events and Debate Winter Tournaments: • Laurenn Vives ’18 & Megan Munce ’18 went undefeated in public forum debate earning another wildcard to the Debate State Qualifying Tournament. Munce was also a finalist in expository speaking, earning a wildcard to the Speech State Qualifying Tournament. • Regina Ta ’19 finished in third place overall in original oratory, earning a wildcard to the Speech State Qualifying Tournament. • Mitra Rezvany ’20 was a semifinalist in expository speaking. • Anisha Reimert ’19 was a semifinalist in humorous interpretation. 6
The Lantern | March 2017
Math Contest Congratulations to Rithu Paramesh ’20 and Nikitha Kalahasti ’20 who tied as the math contest winners for the February meeting. This is Nikitha’s second win while Rithu continues her streak as the champion or co-champion of every math contest this school year! Community Involvement A special shout-out goes to the Community Involvement January Service Stars, Indrea Goyal ’20 and Sarah Ungerer ’20. Indrea completed 23 service hours with Girl Scouts of Northern California and Sarah completed 19 hours at St. Leo the Great. Thank you for bringing your talent and passion to the community!
Choir
By Gabriella Gomez '17 | Bella Voce PR Representative Last month, Bella Voce worked with guest clinician Dr. Hanna Weir, Director of Choral Activities at Santa Clara University, to polish its choral pieces for the highly regarded California All-State Music Education Conference at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Joseph. During the convention, Bella Voce was featured as an exemplary choir in its category.
Performing Arts The Blue Plaid Players take the stage A dedicated group of volunteers has been hard at work rehearsing an exciting fundraising show, From Stage and Screen: A Musical Journey. Tickets are now on sale online: www.presentationhs.org/boxoffice! Six performances will be held at the Valenzuela Theater from March 31-April 9. Proceeds benefit our thriving theater arts program.
The Presentation Talent Show featured performances from several of the vocal music groups on campus. Bella Voce performed Storm Comin’, a rhythmic a cappella piece by the Wailin’ Jennys. The Chamber Choir performed a mash-up from Pitch Perfect and Cantabile performed the classic song Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. The Chamber Choir will next perform at the Presentation Circle and Platinum Dinner on March 2. Bella Voce will participate in the San Jose State University Choral Invitational on March 3 before traveling to San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver at the end of the month.
Dance Team The Presentation Dance Team is on a roll! With first place finishes at three of its competitions so far, the team is ready to defend its back-to-back championships at the Contest of Champions national competition in Orlando, Florida. Best of luck to our Presentation dancers! If you know a middle schooler who would be interested in dancing alongside the Presentation Dance Team, encourage him or her to sign up for our six-week middle school dance program. Beginning March 21, the program ends with performances at the Spring Dance Concert May 10-12. For more information, please email Sara Fugate at sfugate@presentationhs.org. 2017-18 Dance Team auditions will be held in June. An informational meeting will be held June 5 at 6 p.m. in the Presentation Library. Dance clinics will be held June 6, 7, and 8 from 4-6 p.m. in the dance studio. Auditions will take place June 9 at 4 p.m. For more information, please email Sara Fugate at sfugate@presentationhs.org.
Summer Fun PresRep, our summer theater camp for boys and girls ages 12-17, is now open for registration! This five-week camp runs MondayFriday, June 19-July 23, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Each student will have a role in two mainstage productions: the high-energy Dr. Seuss musical, Seussical, and a non-musical play in which our younger performers play the leads. PresRep is a terrific way for students to build self-esteem while learning self-presentation and teamwork skills. Go to our website, www.presrep.com, and register your student today!
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Presentation High School Fashion Show 2017 Let Yourself Blossom Friday, April 7 | Mission City Ballroom | Santa Clara Convention Center Lunch Show | 11 a.m. Dinner Show | 6 p.m. “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” Walt Disney Company, Mulan “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn
Don’t miss Let Yourself Blossom on Friday, April 7 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. This year marks the 51st anniversary of the show! In keeping with the school’s motto, “Not Words, But Deeds,” Let Yourself Blossom is about encouraging our girls to blossom in beauty and philanthropic spirit. By bringing together our Presentation family, faculty, friends and fashion, this incredible event raises much-needed funds for the Endowment for Financial Aid. The annual fashion show is also a place to showcase the incredible creativity of our student-designers who sketch and sew their own creations. You won’t want to miss it! Everyone is invited to be a part of the show. There are several fun ways you can get involved: Attend the Show Reservations for both shows are required and can be made online through the Presentation Fashion Show page of the Pres website. Student Gallery tickets are available during the dinner show. Become a Show Sponsor Secure preferred runway seating while enjoying 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 Four fun packages filled with exhilarating items—including a San Francisco Experience, Los Gatos Spa Getaway, Bubbles and Bling, and Sea La Vie: Santa Cruz Beach weekend—will be raffled off during the dinner show. Tickets cost $40 each, or 5 for $125 and 10 for $225! You do not need to be present to win. Volunteer Behind the Runway Help out as a backstage dresser, props assistant or Grande Finale host. Send an email to Louise Baker at ldbaker_us@yahoo.com to sign up.
A big shout-out to our generous store partners: Bella James, Bombshell Boutique, Chico’s, Francesca’s, Eli Thomas, Etcetera, GAP, Ibiss, Johnny Was, Kendra Scott Jewelry, Kitsch Couture, The Library, 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 Let Yourself Blossom Fashion Show page, www.presentationhs.org/fashionshow. See you at the show!
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Athletics
By Stacey Mallison | Athletic Director Our winter sports teams are nearing the end of the regular season. Currently ranked ninth in CCS, varsity soccer has earned a record of eight wins, four losses and six ties. Impressive offensively and defensively, the team has scored 32 goals and allowed just 15 in its 18 games. In fact, senior striker Emily Cook scored both goals against St. Ignatius in the 2-0 win! Ranked 13th in CCS, varsity basketball overcame injuries and sickness this winter to finish its season with a 12-9 record. We will be cheering on both varsity teams during the CCS tournament! Spring sports began on Jan. 30. Our softball team looks very strong with great returning players and some very talented newcomers; our swimmers and divers are looking to have a record-breaking year with their speed and athleticism, and our track and field program is predicted to have an exciting season! This spring, we are pairing up with the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI), a local organization founded by Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy and Marlene Bjornsrud. Through the BAWSI Girls program, our student-athletes will work with elementary schoolaged children, playing sports with them and teaching them about healthy lifestyles. Last month, the College Counseling and Athletic Departments hosted a workshop for students interested in continuing their
athletic careers in college. To review the topics covered at the workshop, visit the Student-Athletes page in the College Counseling section of the Presentation website. The Athletic Department’s annual fundraiser, Game of Throws, is quickly approaching! We hope to see you on Saturday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Miller Athletic Complex. This fun-filled evening includes a delicious tri-tip BBQ dinner, drinks and a Baggo tournament. 100% of the profits benefit our student-athletes. We hope money raised by Game of Throws will cover the following items: • Golf team bags • Hydration carts • Basketball shot measuring system • New soccer uniforms • New score table for volleyball and basketball • Canopies for softball and track and field Register online to reserve your spot at Game of Throws: www.presentationhs.org/gameofthrows. Stay up to speed with athletic news! Presentation Athletics is on Twitter and Instagram: @PresPanthers Go Panthers!
Varsity Home Games Swimming & Diving
Softball
Saturday, March 4 Tri-meet vs. Notre Dame San Jose/Notre Dame Belmont | 10 a.m.
Tuesday, March 7 vs. Los Altos High School | 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 23 vs. St. Ignatius College Prep | 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 9 vs. Santa Teresa High School | 4 p.m. Thursday, March 16 vs. Sobrato High School | 4 p.m.
Track & Field
Tuesday, March 21 vs. Archbishop Mitty High School | 4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22 vs. St. Ignatius College Prep at Bellarmine | 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 23 vs. St. Ignatius College Prep | 4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29 vs. Valley Christian High School at Bellarmine | 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 30 vs. Valley Christian High School | 4 p.m. www.presentationhs.org 11
March 2017 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
1 For complete calendar visit www.presentationhs.org/calendar
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Mission Drive Prayer Service, 11:05 a.m., Miller Athletic Complex
Golf Tournament Committee Meeting, 6 p.m., Library
Ash Wednesday Liturgy, 11:05 a.m., Miller Athletic Complex
Parent Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Library
8 College Information Night for Junior Parents, 7 p.m., Classrooms
THURSDAY
2
FRIDAY
3
Circle & Platinum Dinner, 6 p.m., Miller Athletic Complex
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SATURDAY
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Father-Daughter Dance, 7:30 p.m., Miller Athletic Complex
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Booster Board Mtg., 7 p.m., Library Math & Science Colloquium, 7 p.m., Marian Stuckey Student Center
TADA!, 6:30 p.m., Reception Room
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23 Third Quarter
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SJPD Drug Awareness Presentation, 7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
Fashion Show Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Library
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28 Board of Trustees Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Library
Grades Available
Junior Ring Liturgy, 1 p.m., Miller Athletic Complex
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Spring Mixer, 7:30 p.m., Marian Stuckey Student Center
Game of Throws 3.0, 5:30 p.m., Miller Athletic Complex
31 From Stage and Screen, 7:30 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
MARCH 2017 Presentation High School The Lantern 2281 Plummer Avenue San Jose, CA 95125