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LANTERN Presentation High School Parent Newsletter | November 2016
Letter from the Principal By Mary Miller '72 | Principal, Presentation High School Dear Parents and Friends of Presentation, By the time this reaches you, we will be in the final week of this election. All of us will probably be inclined to express a collective sigh of relief. This has been perhaps the most negative I can recall in my lifetime; it has been a real challenge for teachers to navigate all that has been going on and find the educational value of most of this discourse. No matter your political affiliation, I think we can agree that this level of negativity and ugly rhetoric has not been helpful to our political process. It has not been helpful in bringing out the best in us. I feel especially saddened—and embarrassed—that your daughters have had to witness leaders “going so low,” and that they had to be subjected as women to some pretty awful messaging. Last month, in the midst of my news obsession and general malaise, I came across an article that I found uplifting. In the spirit of elevating our thoughts and concerns to a higher, more positive level, I would like to share it with you. Thirty years ago, Rabbi Kenneth Berger delivered a sermon that focused on the Challenger disaster—a recent tragedy at the time. He zeroed in on one detail—the revelation that the seven astronauts had remained alive after the explosion for the 65,000-foot fall to the ocean. (Right now, you're probably asking, “Uplifting?”) He called his homily Five Minutes to Live. In it, he touched on the ordinary ways that we forget to express love for our families and friends, blithely assuming there will always be another day. What must have gone through the minds of those astronauts during the explosion and then the five minutes afterward, “If only...if only I...?” With beautiful words, Rabbi Berger urges us to see the blessings we may have taken for granted, to love more intensely, to ask now if only and realize you can still live more fully because you still have today. It’s really all the same—five minutes, five days, five years, 50 years. It’s all the same for it’s over before we realize. We need to focus every day on our blessings, and thank the people we love with sincere gratitude. I think back on the wasted energy I have spent in the past few months obsessing on politics, plowing through my calendar, being too busy to notice—let alone thank—the people in my life who make that life happy and meaningful. I take a pledge—for however long it lasts—to be a more mindful and grateful person. I want to be smiling in my last five minutes, not regretting. In many ways, that is what Thanksgiving should be about—not just for one day—but everyday! So, happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. May God continue to bless you and fill you with grace. Thank YOU, for being a blessing to Pres.
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The Lantern | November 2016
Advancement Auction The “Presentation Speakeasy No. 2281” Auction on Saturday, Oct. 22 was a great success! Guests enjoyed an elegant dinner, exciting raffle drawings, surprise entertainment from our very own dance team and a thrilling live auction. A special thank you to all of those who had a special part in the event, including our hard working volunteers, donors, sponsors, attendees, committee members and our students. The online auction is coming up at the end of November; watch out for more details soon! Fashion Show Everyone is invited to join the Fashion Show planning committee. Now is the time to get involved! The next meeting is Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the library. Learn more about the theme, Let Yourself Blossom, explore ways you can get involved in the fun, and meet an active group of Pres parents. If you’d like more information, email Fashion Show Chair Sue Greene at suegreene23@gmail.com. Vintage '62 Join us for a steak dinner, an open bar, appetizers, dessert and cordials at our annual Vintage ’62 event held at the exclusive St. Claire Club in San Jose on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017. This event is open to dads, brothers, grandfathers, uncles and male friends of Presentation High School. Visit www.presentationhs.org/vintage62 or call the Office of Advancement at (408) 264-5110 to learn more about this all-men’s group.
Board of Trustees
By Marc Parkinson | President, Board of Trustees Friends of Presentation, 2016-2017 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting school year. For the Board of Trustees, plans are underway to create a long-term plan for improvements to the Presentation campus. For the past year, we have been working with a consulting firm to develop a plan for the school’s plant and facilities that will take us into the next 50 years. The plan is a long-range one and encompasses our needs from educational and operational standpoints. The work itself will be done over a number of years in at least three different phases. The final design is still in the works (and a ways off), but the progress made so far is exciting. We look forward to sharing more information with you in the months and years ahead.
Parent Board
By Joel Dibble | Parent Board President | jcdibble17@gmail.com Hello Parents and Pres Supporters, The school year is moving quickly! By now, the Halloween decorations are likely down and you’re strategizing what new approach you’ll use to cook this year’s turkey. And in the spirit of being thankful this November, big thanks go out to the parent volunteers who helped make this year’s auction, held in late October at Villa Ragusa in Campbell, so successful. The auction is one of the school's largest fundraisers benefiting student programs and activities. In addition to giving thanks for all of our blessings, November also means it’s time to lay your cards on the table—the poker table that is! The Parent Board’s popular Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament is back on Friday, Nov. 18. A fun night of friendly competition and spirited camaraderie, players enjoy a gourmet meal, beverages and fun card play for prizes. Each ticket is $150 and includes $1,500 worth of chips to get you started. The tournament is open to all Pres supporters, beginners and card sharks alike. Visit the Pres website at www.presentationhs.org/poker Also, don’t forget to order Starbucks’ cards or birthday balloons for your daughter. Visit www.presentationhs.org or call the Office of Advancement at (408) 264-5110 for reservations or information. If you’re wondering where the Office of Advancement is, it’s directly across from Presentation’s main entrance on Plummer Avenue, in a two-story brown house with a white picket fence. This is where Pres staff processes fundraising activities, including birthday balloon and Starbucks gift card sales. The office is open during school hours. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Attendance Office
Counseling
Friendly reminders from the Attendance Office:
As we find ourselves immersed in the fall and the hustle and bustle of the school year, I think it is important to take time during this month of Thanksgiving to think about gratitude.
If your daughter needs to leave early: In the rare instance when your daughter needs to leave school for an appointment, please send her to the Attendance Office before school begins with a note from you stating the reason she needs to leave and the time of her dismissal. She will be given an early dismissal notice from the Attendance Secretary. If your daughter is absent or late: • If your daughter is coming to school late or not at all, please call the Attendance Office at (408) 266-1060 no later than 9 a.m. • All absences require a written note signed by a parent the day she returns to school. Faxes and emails are not accepted. • Your daughter is considered absent if she arrives after 8 a.m. (unless she has a free period) and will need a parent note when she checks into the Attendance Office. For further information, please review the detailed attendance policy in your daughter’s academic planner. If you have any other questions, please contact the Attendance Office at (408) 266-1060 or by email at cfurtado@presentationhs.org.
Gratitude is an emotion that allows us to express appreciation for what we have. It is not focused on what we want or what we hope to have, but is truly focused on finding peace within what is already ours. Studies show that we can actually increase our well-being and happiness by deliberately focusing on what we are grateful for. Expressing our gratitude to others can increase our energy, optimism and empathy. This is a lot easier said than done! Of course we all get caught up in the business of our lives, leading us to feel run down by all that we have to do. But here are some tips to help focus on the positive and all that is good in our lives: Gratitude is an attitude. If we purposely focus on the things that we are grateful for, the emotions triggered by the positives should follow. Take time each day to call to mind and jounal three things that you are grateful for. Teach your kids to be thankful. Children learn a great deal through observation, so let’s all practice what we preach. Set an example by thanking your children often and whenever they are doing what you ask. Say thank you! With our kids and with one another, we should remember to say thank you often in our daily lives.
College Counseling The month of November is certainly one to be thankful for, especially in the College Counseling Department. We have welcomed the first of many deadlines while looking forward to time spent in celebration with family and friends. November is also the time when our seniors begin to see the college applications process as something they can master and feel confident in. By now, the activities hosted by our department, including workshops and individual appointments, have resulted in strong applications that will serve our students well. College representatives are already taking notice. In fact, many college representatives who visited our campus have remarked on how well our students carry themselves, and how prepared they are with insightful questions and a strong working knowledge of college terminology. Your daughters’ maturity and poise in speaking to admissions personnel has made us incredibly proud, and yes, thankful. Truly, we are thankful to be in a position to help guide these remarkable young women to the next step in their lives and grateful to be there in the coming months to witness the wonderful results they will earn.
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The Lantern | November 2016
Read positive quotes. Keep a few pinned on your bulletin board at work or on sticky notes on your mirror for you to focus on as you get ready for your day. These reminders will help you stay focused on the positive. These are just a few of the many ways to find positivity, joy and gratitude in your life. However you do it, make it habit beyond the month of Thanksgiving!
Campus Ministry In the Catholic tradition, November is a month of reflection in which we pray for those who have passed away. Often, families visit grave sites or set up home altars with special pictures and personal belongings of those we have lost. Here at Presentation, Campus Ministry invites you to bring photos or symbols of loved ones to our chapel to be placed on the altar. You are welcome to our chapel for personal prayer at any time. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, we will celebrate the Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation to honor and reflect on the holy women and men of the Communion of Saints. Through their example, we are challenged to respond to our own call to live holy and meaningful lives. On Monday, Nov. 14, we will hold the first freshman retreat of the year at the Presentation Center in Los Gatos. During this retreat, students consider how prayer and spirituality help them remain centered through both the challenging and celebratory times in their life. The day is led by a team of peer ministers and includes small group activities, class bonding, faith sharing and talks. This mandatory event for freshmen is offered once each semester so that families may choose the more convenient session. On Friday, Nov. 21, we will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple, which honors the Presentation Sisters, their foundress Nano Nagle, and their charism of ministry to the poor. Many Sisters of the Presentation from the Bay Area will attend and will renew their vows at this beautiful mass.
Bella Voce
By Gabriella Gomez | Bella Voce Public Relations Representative In early October, Bella Voce, Cantabile and the newly formed Chamber Choir performed in their annual fall gala, singing to a sold out audience in the Valenzuela Theater. The concert was deemed a wonderful success, with guests enjoying delicious appetizers and beverages in the Marian Stuckey Center before the concert. Silent auction items and baskets, including a Michael Kors set and a stay in a Hawaii vacation home, garnered many eager bids, with all money raised going directly to the choirs. One lucky guest even went home with Pentatonix tickets! Proceeds from the events will help the choirs fund their upcoming trips. Bella Voce will be traveling up north to Seattle and Vancouver in the spring, and Cantabile will be performing in Santa Clara's “Music In The Park” festival. Additionally, Bella Voce recently performed at the West Valley College Invitational on Oct. 28. The Chamber Choir has been performing the national anthem at volleyball games throughout the fall, including Faculty Appreciation Night and Kill for the Cure. They made their formal debut at the fall gala, contributing two pieces to the concert. Coming up, the Winter Choir Concert will be held on Dec. 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. Friday night’s show will take place in Presentation’s Valenzuela Theater, while Saturday night’s show will be performed in the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in downtown San Jose. The theme is “The Story,” with songs revolving around the nativity story, following the journey of the birth of Jesus. Bella Voce, Cantabile, and Chamber Choir will be joined by this year's 23 Middle School Choral Workshop participants, representing 11 different schools. Tickets are available through the Presentation website; be sure to purchase yours before they sell out!
Dance Team
On Dec. 1, a group of sophomores will attend their class level retreat at the Presentation Retreat Center. The day is led by a team of Peer Ministers and includes prayer, community building, and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Take your candle, go light your world!
The Presentation Dance Team invites you to the Winter Dance Cabaret! This evening of dancing and singing features the Presentation Dance Team, Presentation Dance Company, our third and fourth period dance classes, Bella Voce and Cantabile. Tickets are $15 each and will go on sale on Nov. 15 through the Presentation box office, www.presentationhs.org/boxoffice. Be sure to bring extra cash for drinks, snacks and an exciting raffle. We hope to see you there!
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Performing Arts By Jim Houle | Performing Arts Director
Visual Arts
Barb Purdy | Visual & Performing Arts Chair “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way—things I had no words for.” Georgia O'Keeffe
Opening this month: The Tony Award-winning musical A Chorus Line performs Nov. 5-20 in the Valenzuela Theater. This singular sensation opened on Broadway in 1975—and went on to break the record for longest-running show at the time. It tells the story of a group of dancers auditioning to get a part in a Broadway show. 31 actors, 15 technicians and 17 musicians will lend their talents to this production, which reunites the artistic staff who created last year’s crowd-pleasing production of Chicago. Our TADA! board officers—Tiffany Sousa, Tricia Stephens and Karen Franchetti— have coordinated our crew of set and costuming volunteers, and all have been building, sewing and painting in anticipation of opening night. If you remember the popularity of our past productions, you will recall we sell out many of our performances, so perhaps you might want to get your seats to A Chorus Line now. Just go to our home page and click the Art/box office button. From there you can pick your performance and your favorite seat. Don’t miss this show! I.T.S. Annual Charity Concert Congratulations to this year’s International Thespian Society officers—Maia Lwin, Ankitha Neelavar, Hannah Franchetti, Raziel Santos and Ashley Stephens—who produced a benefit concert on Oct. 5, the Concert for Animals, raising funds for The Humane Society, a winning organization that supports and protects animals. It was a wonderful evening of performances, including songs, dances and two numbers from Cats! Once again, the depth of the Pres student talent pool was on display, as well as the generosity of our giving community. Thanks for your support! Another Opening, Another Show We have added a second musical to our mainstage season. The upbeat, 80s-themed, film-turned-musical Footloose will perform Jan. 21-29 in the Valenzuela Theater. Auditions for this musical are Nov. 21-22. All Pres students—and all high school-aged boys—are eligible to audition. Consider encouraging your student to have an experience in performing arts, where confidence is built, friendships are made and everyone shares in the excitement of opening night. See you at the theater!
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The Lantern | November 2016
Students in the Visual Arts Department don’t just learn about art, they produce it at very high levels. Often, they go on to art, design or photography programs as college undergraduates. This school year, we have 15 students in Advanced Art and six students AP Studio Art Drawing or 2D Design. Our AP Studio Art and Advanced Art students are creating work for the “Choices” theme of the ARTNOW show, Santa Clara County’s juried art competition. Last year, ARTNOW received more than 800 entries from high school students in the county. From those 800 entries, three college art professors selected only 80 artworks for the ultimate show at the New Museum of Los Gatos. In Drawing and Painting I, students are concentrating on drawing from observation. Did you know it is more difficult to draw from a still life in a studio setup than from a photograph of still life? The reason is spatial. It’s complicated for your daughters to create a two-dimensional drawing of three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. It takes lots of practice to train your hand to draw what your eye sees. In Ms. Ford’s classes, Design I students are working on artwork that utilizes white and black paper with Exacto knives to create cutout patterns and visuals inspired by California artist Kara Walker. In our ceramics instruction, students have learned multiple methods of hand-building and are now applying this knowledge to shape beautiful ceramic pieces that reference historic pottery or sculptures of past centuries. Meanwhile, our photography students finished their unit on architectural photos and are learning how to take long exposures with their cameras. The Visual and Performing Arts Department is happy to have Grace Lee join our department as our new Graphic Design, Digital Video Production, Graphic Publication and Broadcast Journalism teacher. Students in her Broadcast Journalism class are completing their initial video productions that concentrate on aspects of life at Presentation. Those clips will soon be available on YouTube. Stay tuned. Additionally, Ms. Lee’s Graphic Design class just finished an interesting project that asked students to redesign the book covers of famous titles such as “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Ms. Lee has also begun instruction in the Adobe Illustrator program, which students will use to design, print and sell unique stickers that can be shared with their fellow students. After six weeks of yearbook training, Graphic Publication students are approaching their first deadline on the annual project to commemorate and photograph our 2016-17 school year. Yearbooks arrive in May. If you haven’t bought a book, please do so before the price goes up after December 31.
Athletics Hello, Panther supporters! Our fall sports teams continue to impress and improve as the fall season continues. Cross Country Our cross country team finished its first WCAL meet of the 2016 season in third place, just steps behind the second place team. Junior Paige Comiso finished in second place in the individual competition. Field Hockey Our field hockey team had a great win over Prospect High School and a close match-up against league-mate Leigh High School. The team also volunteered with Kicks for Kids, playing sports with children who have special needs. Golf The members of our golf team are progressing every week, improving and lowering their scores as they prepare for the WCAL Championship at the Santa Teresa Golf Club on Oct. 24. Tennis Our tennis team has had a competitive season. The team played in the Notre Dame Belmont tournament at the College of San Mateo and posted wins over Mercy San Francisco and host Notre Dame Belmont. Volleyball Our volleyball program held its annual Kill for a Cure event on Oct. 5 to raise money for the Side Out Foundation, an organization that raises money for breast cancer research. In addition to holding a raffle and selling baked goods, volleyball players also collected pledges for each “kill� they earned in their games. Overall, this terrific event, organized by volleyball coach Sarah Esquivel, raised $8,021.50. Water Polo Last month, our varsity water polo team posted great wins over St. Ignatius, Carlmont and Notre Dame Belmont. Junior Kaitlin Rooney was named the Mercury News Athlete of the Week for scoring 10 goals in the Carlmont win. JV Teams Oct. 8 was quite a victorious day for our JV teams! JV cross country won the Serra Invitational; JV volleyball beat St. Francis to win the Panther Challenge tournament; JV water polo team beat Mitty to win the Panther Invitational. What a great day to be a Panther! Go Panthers! Stacey Mallison Athletic Director
Varsity Home Games Basketball Monday, Nov. 21 CCS Sportsmanship Game vs. ND Belmont | 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 Alumnae Game | 6 p.m.
Field Hockey Thursday, Nov. 2 CCS Playoffs Start | TBD
Soccer Monday, Nov. 28 vs. Notre Dame San Jose | 3:30 p.m.
Volleyball Thursday, Nov. 2 CCS Playoffs Start | TBD
Water Polo Tuesday, Nov. 1 CCS Playoffs Start | TBD
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November 2016 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
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1 All Saints Day Mass, 11:05 a.m., Miller Athletic Complex
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7 A Chorus Line, 2 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
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LAMP Meeting, 7 p.m., Jenvey House
Chorus Line, 132Ap.m., 14 Valenzuela Theater
Presentation Public Forum Invitational Debate Tournament
Winter Sports Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., Marian Stuckey Student Center
Chorus Line, 20 2Ap.m., 21 Valenzuela
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22
Theater
Thanksgiving Break
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Footloose Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
29 Semester-End Recitals, 7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
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Chorus Line, 17 7Ap.m., Valenzuela
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A Chorus Line, 7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
Presentation Public Forum Invitational Debate Tournament Line, 18 A Chorus 7 p.m. Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament, 5 p.m. Feast of the Presentation Liturgy, 11 a.m.
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Thanksgiving Break
SATURDAY
5
11 A Chorus Line,
Math & Science Colloquium, 7 p.m., Marian Stuckey Student Center
Thanksgiving Break
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4
Theater
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FRIDAY
Holiday Drives Prayer Service, 11:05 a.m., Miller Athletic Complex
Booster Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Library
Board of Trustees Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Library
Harlan Cohen Talk, 7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
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3 Parent Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Library
Fashion Show Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Library
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THURSDAY
Thanksgiving Break
12 A Chorus Line,
7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
Presentation Public Forum Invitational Debate Tournament
19A Chorus Line,
7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
Family Morning of Service, 10 a.m.
26 Thanksgiving Break
30 For complete calendar visit www.presentationhs.org/calendar
NOVEMBER 2016 Presentation High School The Lantern 2281 Plummer Avenue San Jose, CA 95125