May 2016 Lantern by Presentation High School

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LANTERN Presentation High School Parent Newsletter | May 2016

Dear Parents and Friends of Presentation, May traditionally marks the beginning of the end of the school year. The seniors are busily planning their next great adventure, and understandably are both ready to go and appropriately nostalgic. Juniors are ready to assume the mantle of school leadership. Sophomores are anticipating the freedoms that come with upper-division status; and the frosh are just anxious not to be frosh anymore! Change is in the air; and it’s a good thing. We also find ourselves very immersed in the next school year: the Class of 2020 has been officially welcomed and PresWear is proudly being worn all over the valley; final schedules are being prepared and the calendar finalized for 2016-17; budgets are underway. Life goes on at a frenzied pace preparing for the future. All of this is as it should be, but I can’t help but reflect of the lessons I have learned most personally and acutely this year and have seen in so many friends and acquaintances. Our lives as we know them can change on a dime–unexpectedly and dramatically. We need look no further than the earthquake victims in Ecuador and Japan last month. As the saying goes: “God laughs while we are making plans.” While we think we are in control, we are not. That realization can either make us cynical about the randomness of life, or more committed to a life of perspective and grace.

What's Inside DEPARTMENTS Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Campus Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visual Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 4 6 3 4 6 5 5

CLUBS International Cultures Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ATHLETICS Athletics/Home Games Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fashion Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Parent Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 MAY CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

I hope all of us can end the year with a healthy balance of excitement for the future combined with the full grasp of the importance of living TODAY. There are so many fun events, opportunities to make memories and enjoy each other’s company. The months and years go by too quickly; enjoy the time with your family and friends now. Thanks for your support and for entrusting us with your daughters; it is an honor we do not take for granted. God bless you; take care of yourself and those you love.

Mary Miller '72 Principal

Board of Trustees

Parent Board

By Marc Parkinson, President

By Lisa Matthews, President | lmatthews@spsinc.biz

After a one-month hiatus from my column, I am back with a slightly different topic than the Board of Trustees business I usually cover.

Several years ago I had one of those “a-ha” moments. My 92-year-old grandmother was holding my hand and we were sharing a laugh about something insignificant. When she finished giggling she said, “You know, it all went by too quickly.” As I reflect on how fast this year has flown by, her words ring true.

I am on the dinner committee for Vintage '62, an organization whose sole purpose is to host an elegant and enjoyable dinner once a year for the men of the Presentation community to raise funds for the Presentation Scholarship Fund. This year’s dinner will be held May 5 at The Table Restaurant in Willow Glen at 6 p.m. This dinner addresses a genuine need at Presentation. More than 200 students currently receive tuition assistance; 75 of them are in need of full tuition assistance. Additionally, we provide funds to help round out the full high school experience including club dues, uniforms, class rings and a myriad of other extras. By participating in this incredibly fun dinner, at a cost of $400 a plate, you will meet some terrific alumnae dads, current dads and perhaps make some important connections. Your generous contribution will bring the full Presentation experience to students who would otherwise not be able to enjoy it. Come and have some fun while supporting our girls. Seating is limited, so don’t delay in reserving your spot at our table. For more information, contact the Office of Advancement: (408) 264-5110. I guarantee an evening of good food and good fellowship, all for a good cause. Hope to see you there!

Fashion Show By Leah Schnoor

It’s a Wrap for Presentation & Co.! The Presentation & Co. Fashion Show gave us an afternoon and evening to remember with two dazzling and unforgettable productions. The entire committee extends its heartfelt gratitude to all of the designers, hostesses, models, dancers, production team, parents and partners who helped make the show a success. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you! A final shout-out to our 14 talented student designers and fabulous store partners – Athleta, Banana Republic, Bella James, Chico’s, Eli Thomas, Francesca’s, Free People, GAP, Ibiss, Johnny Was, Kitsch Couture, The Library, The North Face and White House|Black Market. When you’re shopping, please be sure to thank them for their continued support of Presentation. If you missed the show or would like a copy, Playback Memories recorded the production. To purchase a DVD/BluRay, visit www.playbackmemories.com. Thank you again. Leah Schnoor Presentation & Co. Chair 2

The Lantern | May 2016

This is my final letter as Parent Board President and my little red-haired girl is graduating. So you can’t blame me for feeling a little sentimental and very grateful. It has been an honor to serve as Parent Board President, especially working with a compassionate group of parents who really care about our students and the future of this school. Parent Board doesn’t do it alone. We accomplish our goals because fellow parents, generous alumnae and community supporters continue to attend events, donate supplies and buy endless raffle tickets! With your help, Parent Board is donating a complete scholarship to a deserving student. This student will have tuition, uniform, books, athletic registration or club fees, SAT/ACT test costs – basically every financial need will be covered so she can attend Presentation and enjoy the experience. This scholarship is in addition to refurbishing Room 19 with ergonomic swivel desks, classroom technology upgrades and even a cutting edge bio-friendly floor that actually cleans the air while our girls study. Finally, Parent Board is donating $50,000 toward Presentation’s operating budget. These investments will continue under the new leadership of the 2016-2017 Parent Board: President, Joel Dibble; Vice President, Matt Sunseri; Recording Secretary, Virginia Berner; Treasurer, Pat Premo; Parliamentarian, Lisa Matthews; Family Ties Chair, Dave Nickel; Historians, Anne Naragon and Stephanie Affourtit; and Alum Reps, Toni vonDohren and Phil Micciche. I would also like to welcome our new members: Maria and Hugo De La Torre, Richard Every, Andrea Hineman, Martha Gonzalez, Joanne Meninger, Pat Mitchell, Julie Ruppert, Stu Slack, Feng Tsao and Maris Whitney. I want to thank you again and wish you a relaxing, safe summer. As we all know, time will fly by. Make sure to savor the little moments that make it all special. God bless, Lisa Matthews | Outgoing Parent Board President

Counseling: The Art of Happiness

Attendance

By Yvette Frojelin '86 Sophomore Counselor & Learning Specialist

With the school year winding down, here are a couple of quick reminders regarding attendance. Please remember to call in your daughter’s absence by 9 a.m. The number is (408) 266-1060. When your daughter returns to school, please send her with a signed absent note from you. This must be turned in first thing the morning she is back. In the rare instance when your daughter needs to be dismissed from class for an appointment, please send her to the Attendance Office before school with a signed note from you stating the time she needs to leave class and the reason. She will receive an early dismissal slip.

In college my major was Psychology and my minor was Sociology. While registering for classes one semester, I came upon a class called Sociology of Happiness. I thought this must be a joke but I decided to take the class out of curiosity. This class ended up being one of the most important, not to mention fun, classes I would ever take. Today, there is a new field of psychology called Positive Psychology which examines how people can lead lives feeling more fulfilled and happy. Positive Psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky defines happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful and worthwhile”.

By Catherine Furtado

This has truly been a great school year and we really appreciate your help in following our attendance guidelines. As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Furtado at cfurtado@presentationhs.org.

Too often it seems we wait for happiness to arrive at our door, not realizing happiness is a choice. We have the ability to create more happiness in our lives by practicing healthy living. It is essential we regularly include healthy eating, exercise, restorative sleep, relaxation and some form of meditation. Here are some other important things we can incorporate into our lives to increase our happiness: • Practice gratitude • Savor pleasant experiences • Practice forgiveness • Volunteer • Do things you enjoy • Daily positive affirmations • Give compliments and hold back criticisms • Smile. We can smile because we feel happy, but we can also feel happy because we are smiling! Happiness isn’t ignoring life’s troubles or disappointments. It’s about daily actions that shift one’s behaviors and attitudes over time. In talking with students this semester, I have been asking them how they define success. I am very pleasantly surprised to hear many students answer “being happy!" One student shared her favorite quote from John Lennon “When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” What can be better than this?!

International Cultures Club By Carrie Murray

The members of the International Cultures Club have been working hard all year to reinvent their club! This year the group has made significant changes that have invigorated its members and brought everyone closer to our mission–learning about culture! During each meeting, students present a different topic to teach others about a culture they have researched. So far this year the students have presented on current events, festivals, fashion and music. For example, Maria Valdez '17 brought in a beautiful Mexican dress to celebrate fashion from around the world and new member Chau Nguyen '19 brought in moon cakes as part of her presentation on Chinese New Year. Another new member, freshman Quynhvi Pham, along with junior Isabel Wu and seniors Julia Offutt and Brittany Hodges have been key contributors to the club's success this year! www.presentationhs.org 3

Campus Ministry

Community Involvement

By Sharon Bouska

By Lindsay Swoboda

On April 29, Presentation honored the Blessed Virgin Mary and celebrated her mission of love with a prayer service in the courtyard. This was a reminder of Mary's grace, her faith in God, and her love for her family, her community and the poor. This celebration was led by our senior class and many of the special women of faith from the Class of 2016 were honored.

Over the past seven weeks, Presentation students, faculty and staff have been busy raising money during Mission Drive for our Presentation Sisters in Nicaragua and Guatemala. The funds provide much-needed supplies such as shoes, medical supplies, educational materials, scholarships, food for school lunches and improvements to school facilities. The communities in which our Presentation Sisters serve are among the poorest in those countries; things like water and food, which we often take for granted, are in limited supply.

We are also delighted to welcome 100 young women into next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peer Ministry program! These generous students will help organize all school prayer experiences, masses and retreats next year. On May 26, the new team will gather for prayer, leadership training and bonding. On May 27, we will honor the graduating class of 2016 with Class Day, which begins with our baccalaureate liturgy. The liturgy begins at 9 a.m. in the gym. All are welcome to attend. Registration forms have been mailed for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retreats for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. These retreats are free and open to students of all faith traditions. The retreats are popular and fill up quickly so get your forms in by May 26. Ms. Foley is on maternity leave until September. In her place, we welcome Mrs. Sharon Bouska, who previously worked here as a campus minister. Campus Ministry wishes you a blessed summer that is full of fun, laughter, peace and renewal!

The Lantern | May 2016

This year our goal was to raise $14,500 for Mission Drive. We are happy to report, through the hard work and determination of our students, we surpassed that goal and raised $16,570. Thank you to all of the parents, alumni, and neighbors who also contributed to our drive and helped make it such a success. In June, eight of our students and three faculty chaperones will travel to Nicaragua to see how our donations impact the community. They will spend part of the week working with Amigos for Christ digging trenches to bring clean water to rural communities. They will also spend time with Sister Rachel Pinal learning about her ministry to the people of Somotillo and visiting the schools that receive our donations. Please pray for their safe travels during what will undoubtedly be a meaningful experience for these students and chaperones.

Visual Arts Department By Barb purdy

The Visual and Performing Arts Department is hosting a variety of upcoming events to showcase our students’ creativity:

• Please mark you calendars and join us on Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. for the AP Studio Art Exhibit in conjunction with the Spring Dance Concert in the Valenzuela Theater. Works of art on display include 24 pieces created by students for their AP portfolios. • Piano Keyboard II students will perform in a semester-end recital in the Valenzuela Theater on Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. • The Presentation Dance Team, Cantabile, Bella Voce and our chapter of the International Thespian Society are all hosting year-end productions this month. More information can be found within the pages of this edition of The Lantern. Our students have also been busy in the classroom: • Students in Theater Productions II studied 20th century American playwrights and wrote their own three-minute plays. • Drawing & Painting II classes were challenged to draw and shade a three-quarter view of their own self portraits in accurate proportions with a range of values. The class will conclude the school year using watercolors to create an endangered animal mandala. • Ceramics I classes are thrilled to be learning how to throw on the wheel and are completing their last project–an Idiom sculpture or mask. Students will conclude the semester by doing a Raku firing of one of their wheel-thrown pieces. • Ceramics II classes are in the process of finishing their funky, functional, two-spout, creative teapots. • Inspired by their favorite contemporary artists, Design II classes finished their vinyl record purses the end of April. • Photography students were inspired by David Hockney’s Joiner photographs and completed their own Joiner project. • Advanced Art students completed a three-color silk screen print of their heroes. They were challenged to think in terms of shapes, colors and alignment. • Graphic Design II students are working on their Social Justice mural. Students will use Photoshop to complete this work of art. • Our Graphic Publication class is working hard covering our spring events for the supplement to the yearbook.

Theater By Jim Houle

Freshman I.T.S./Improv Show Come see an evening of song, scene and comedy on Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Valenzuela Theater! I.T.S., our drama club, presents Freshman Snip-ITS, an evening of short scenes and songs performed by the super talented class of 2019. Not only will the frosh be performing, but our upper-classwomen will be showing their talents as well by choreographing and directing the individual scenes. At Pres, we enjoy handing our stage over to students and giving them the opportunity to discover their innate leadership skills as they take on the responsibilities involved in directing and producing. The entertainment continues with a performance by our resident improv comedy team, Spontaneous Combustion, who will compete for your laughs with their special brand of improvised on-the-spot comedy. All this for only $5! See you at the theater! PresRep 2016 The fun begins on Monday, June 13 as we gather for our super-successful summer theater program, Presentation Repertory. Students ages 12-17 gather from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for five weeks to take classes, meet new friends and perform roles in two shows! This year we will be producing the Disney classic The Little Mermaid as well as an original play created by the students. PresRep is a great way for incoming freshman to meet new friends before school begins in the fall and for sixth and seventh graders to check out our theater program. Registration and information is available on our home page. Sign up your student before this popular program fills up. www.presentationhs.org 5

Bella Voce

Dance Team

By Ankitha Neelavar '17

By Isabelle Dosdos '16

The Presentation vocal arts program is closing its year with several amazing performances.

After a successful trip to Nationals, the dance team is gearing up for the end of the year! The team will be performing for the last time at the Spring Dance Concert May 4-6 in the Valenzuela Theater. The show features performances from the dance team, third and fourth period dance classes, after-school dance classes and the dance team's middle school workshop participants. Tickets are available on Presentation website: www.presentationhs.org/boxofﬁce.

On April 16, Bella Voce and Cantabile performed in the CMEA Large Group Festival, where they earned a ranking of Unanimous Superior. Next, on April 19, Bella Voce performed as the featured choir in the Diocesan Choral Festival at Sacred Heart School in Saratoga. The event allowed elementary and middle school choirs the chance to hear the top-performing high school groups in the Diocese of San Jose. On April 23, Cantabile performed at the Music in the Parks Festival at Milpitas High School and Great America. This was an awesome opportunity for our freshman choir to experience a competitive festival and enjoy a day of bonding at Great America! On April 29, Bella Voce joined forces with the Bellarmine-Notre Dame Concert Choir and the student-run Bellarmine Acapella group to perform a concert benefiting Feed the Childre, a group that works to stop human trafficking and support children’s rights. Both choirs will conclude the school year with the Spring Concert, Traditions, on Friday, May 13 from 7-9 p.m. in the Valenzuela Theater. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased online: www.presentationhs.org/boxofﬁce. The girls have been working since November to perfect their sound repertoire. Traditional music from America, Ireland, and Africa will be performed along with featured performances by our 2016 soloists! We hope to see you there! This summer, Bella Voce will travel to Ireland to sing as part of the Dublin-San Jose Sister City Celebration Concert. The girls are very excited to perform internationally at such a prestigious event! As always, thank you for your continued support. We hope to see you at one of our next performances!

The Lantern | May 2016

Dancers interested in being part of the 2016-2017 Presentation Dance Team will have an opportunity to audition on Friday, May 20. Incoming freshmen and current Presentation freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be able to attend audition clinics to learn the material for the auditions. There will be a parent and dancer meeting on Monday, May 9 at 6 p.m. in the Presentation library. Clinics will be held May 16, 17 and 19 from 4-6 p.m. in the Presentation dance studio. Don't miss out on a great opportunity! Contact Sara Fugate at sfugate@presentationhs.org for more information. We thank you for your endless support this year and hope to see you at our Spring Dance Concert!

Athletics By Stacey Mallison | Athletic Director

Hello Panthers! Our student-athletes are hard at work! We have about 250 students representing Presentation teams this spring in Softball, Swimming & Diving and Track & Field. All of our teams are posting hardearned victories over their opponents in the WCAL. Our softball team earned great wins against St. Francis and St. Ignatius and also competed in the very competitive Livermore Stampede tournament. The Swimming & Diving team achieved victories over St. Ignatius and Valley Christian. Our JV Swimming & Diving team is working hard to maintain its undefeated streak, earning wins against Mitty, St. Francis, Valley Christian and St. Ignatius. The Track & Field team is really coming together this spring. Our pole vaulters swept the St. Francis meet with Sydney Jaques placing first, Mackenzy Jaques taking second and Gabrielle Avila placing third. Sydney Jaques also won Lelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quicksilver Invite and took second at the Stanford Invitational. Our distance runners are also competing well with Madison McManus taking first in the 1600 and Paige Comiso winning the 3200 against WCAL rival St. Francis. Please congratulate all of our spring student-athletes for their efforts and their successes this season!

The Athletic Department hosted a presentation on April 11 about nutrition. Clinical Nutritionist Leanne Hewlin spoke to parents, students, coaches and teachers about how to eat properly to fuel their bodies and the importance of clean eating. This is a conversation the Athletic Department pledges to continue with our student-athletes to help them learn how to stay healthy, reduce the rate of injury, perform better (in school and in their sports) and be happier. After all, we are all happier when weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling great, right? We also plan to make some menu changes in the concession stand. Save the date and be on the lookout for information about Sports Physical Night on Monday, May 2 from 6-9 p.m. in the Miller Athletic Complex. The physicals cost $30 and all of the proceeds go directly back to our training room to buy supplies for our student-athletes. Specific information about Sports Physical Night is available on our homepage, or contact our Athletic Trainer Heather Terbeek at hterbeek@presentationhs.org. Go Panthers!

Varsity Home Games Softball Tuesday, May 3 | 4 p.m. vs. St. Francis High School Thursday, May 5 | 4 p.m. vs. St. Ignatius College Prep Tuesday, May 10 | TBA WCAL Playoffs, 1st Round Wednesday, May 18 | TBA CCS Playoffs, 1st Round

Diving Wednesday, May 4 | 4 p.m. vs. WCAL Diving Championship

Track & Field Wednesday, May 4 | 3 p.m. vs. Notre Dame Belmont

www.presentationhs.org 7

May 2016 SUNDAY

MONDAY

LAMP, Jenvey Conference Room, 7-8 p.m. Sports Physical Night, Miller Athletic Complex, 5-8 p.m.

TUESDAY Fashion Show Committee Victory Party, Library, 7-9 p.m.

Dance Team Parent Meeting, Library, 6-7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Parent Board 4 Meeting, Library,

7-9 p.m. Dance Concert and Art Show, Valenzuela Theater, 7-10 p.m.

LAMP Senior TADA!, Mom Welcome Event, Reception Room, CLC, 5-9 p.m. CLC, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Golf Tournament Semester-End Recitals, Pairings Meeting, Valenzuela Theater, Garrett Conf. Room, 7-9 p.m. 6-8 p.m.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Golf Tournament Mtg., Library, 7-9 p.m. Dance Concert and Art Show, Valenzuela Theater, 7-10 p.m.

Dance Concert and Art Show, Valenzuela Theater, 7-10 p.m.

'62 Dinner, 6 5 Vintage The Table, 6 p.m.

Booster Board Party, 6-8 p.m.

School buildings close at 3 p.m. Golf Tournament Victory Party, CLC Courtyard, 6-9 p.m.

SATURDAY Prom, Scottish Rite Center, 6:30-11 p.m.

13Golf Tournament, 14

Cinnabar Hills Golf Senior Lock-in, Course, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Miller Athletic Complex, Spring Concert, 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. Valenzuela Theater, 7-9 p.m.

Awards Assembly, Miller Athletic Complex, 10:40 a.m. Improv Show, Valenzuela Theater, 6-9 p.m.

Senior Dinner, Miller Athletic Complex, 6:30-9 p.m.

Senior Lock-in, Miller Athletic Complex, 8 p.m. - 8 a.m.

School buildings Graduation close at 3 p.m. Miller Athletic Complex, Class Day Liturgy, 11 a.m. Miller Athletic Complex, 9 a.m.

For complete calendar visit www.presentationhs.org/calendar

MAY 2016 The Lantern | January 2016

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