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LANTERN Presentation High School Parent Newsletter | September 2016
The beginning of a new school year is always a time of welcome and hope—a time to reset our intentions and reevaluate what is most important to us. In that spirit, I’d like to share an excerpt of the remarks I delivered to our students on the first day of school. Welcome to a new school year! Some of you have been part of Pres for quite some time; others are just beginning. But starting now, each of us is making a commitment—a commitment to bring our best individual selves (our talents, our hopes, our goals) and join with each other in community—the community that is Pres. There is no Catholic Pres; there is no Protestant Pres; there is no Muslim Pres—there is one Pres! There is no Catholic School Pres; there is no public school Pres—there is one Pres. There is no white, black, or brown Pres—there is one Pres. There is no straight Pres or gay Pres—there is one Pres. There is no AP student Pres or struggling student Pres—there is one Pres! We are a diverse community. As the old saying goes, “...we may have arrived on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” We will need everyone to make it float. So what is the rudder that will keep us going in the right direction? What will unite us? A common vision of life, as well as some common principles I ask you to embrace. We are all children of God—made in God’s image—inherently good. So treating people as “other”—dehumanizing people or putting down others as different or scary—is wrong. We are flawed people—often prone to making mistakes—choosing poorly at times. Because this is our nature, we need to
We are all weak and vulnerable—quite often—so we all need to show compassion and mercy and kindness towards one another. We are smart, and capable and talented—but we do not walk the path of life alone—we need each other to be truly happy. We are responsible for ourselves, but we are called to serve others—especially those (who through no fault of their own)—do not enjoy all the advantages we have. Above all, we need to love one another as we are loved by God. These are the values found in the gospels; these are what Jesus proclaimed and lived; these are human values that will create a better world. These are the values that fill us with hope. I don’t know if you feel the same way, but I feel the culture we live in is getting more rude and crude and mean-spirited. Language matters, words matter, and living in a free society should not give you license to say any mean thing that comes to your mind. We are better than that; we must be better than that! A few weeks ago, First Lady Michelle Obama remarked on the lesson she and her husband have tried to impart to their daughters, “When others go low, we go high.” So, as we begin a new year, I ask us and challenge us—as individuals and as a school community, to bear witness to what we believe—in our words and in our deeds. Be kind and compassionate to one another—even when it is hard.
What's Inside DEPARTMENTS Student Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . College Counseling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Campus Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
forgive and be forgiven. Seeking retaliation, holding on to past grievances only fills us with anger and becomes self-destructive.
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ATHLETICS Athletics/Home Games Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT Fashion Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Parent Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SEPTEMBER CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Be forgiving—even when wronged. Do good—even if it goes unnoticed. Give your best. When others go low—go high!! If we do this, we won’t have to hope for a great year— we will make this a great year!! God bless you and go Panthers!! Mary Miller ’72 Principal
Parent Board Dear Parents, Welcome back!! I hope you had a great summer full of adventure, rest and tons of family time. I’m super excited to start the year as President of the Parent Board. Whether this is your first fall at Presentation or you’re a grizzled veteran, you may not be familiar with exactly what the Parent Board is, what we do or how you can get involved. We’re a group of parents who run, with the help of volunteers like you, many of the events at Pres throughout the year. Some of these activities are social—such as the upcoming MotherDaughter Mass and Breakfast or the annual Crab Feed Dinner-Dance and some provide helpful information to the Presentation community such as the State of the School Address and the Family Ties Program. Most importantly, many of these activities raise funds for student scholarships and equipment for various on-campus clubs and athletics. The Board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Library. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. Be sure to keep your eyes right here on the Lantern for more information on upcoming activities, sign up to volunteer at future events and play an active role in your daughter’s education—it’s surprisingly easy to do and very rewarding! And please feel free to tap one of us on the shoulder and introduce yourself. You’ll typically find us on campus wearing our royal blue polo shirts. We are looking forward to another great year at Presentation! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Joel Dibble Parent Board President jcdibble17@gmail.com
Mag Drive Mag Drive 2016 officially begins Friday, Sept. 9! We hope you are feeling that #MagSwag! As a reminder, all students are required to turn in either $120 in magazine subscriptions or donations. That said, our school goal is at least $240 per student. Go to www.gaschoolstore.com and use our organization ID #2585081 (Presentation High School Panthers) to purchase your magazines online, or register to inform your friends and family. It is important that accounts created online are linked to the ID/name above. If they aren’t, the website won’t accurately record the sales. When registered online, students can create promotional videos and contact family/friends digitally to enhance sales. Sales conducted this way will automatically be linked to that student’s sales account. Don’t forget to print and save your online receipts to earn sales credit and prizes! There are a number of things students can win including: $2,000 to the high seller; cash awards for the top seven high sellers; cash from the wheel spin; Jamba Juice, iTunes, and In-N-Out gift cards; candy; T-shirts; free dress; TOGO’s and Round Table Pizza lunches, and of course school holidays! All orders must be completed and turned in by Friday, Sept. 23 to receive credit during the Mag Drive. If you have any questions, feel free to contact tcase@presentationhs.org.
Fashion Show Make our runway dreams come true by having fun and making a difference. Now’s your chance to join the 2016-2017 Fashion Show Committee. From marketing to design, construction to instruction, and fashion to logistics-there are job openings to fit most every talent, schedule and passion. The fun starts at our kickoff meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 7-9 p.m. in the Marian Stuckey Student Center on campus. Our annual fashion show features Pres seniors and raises important funds to support the Endowment for Financial Aid. Join us to learn more about this year’s theme, check out volunteer openings and meet a new friend or two! Appetizers and lively libations will be served. For more information, contact Fashion Show Chair Sue Greene at suegreene23@gmail.com.
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The Lantern | September 2016
A Note from the Attendance Office Parents, if your daughter is not coming to school or is coming to school late, please call the Attendance Office no later than 9 a.m. at (408) 266-1060. When she returns to school, send her to the Attendance Office with a note from you. Your daughter is considered absent if she arrives at school after 8 a.m. (unless she has a free period), and will need a note. All absences require a written note signed by the parent the day she returns to school. Faxes and emails are not accepted. 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 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. By law, the school cannot dispense medication. Your daughter may carry Advil, Tylenol, Midol, cough drops, etc. in her backpack to use as needed. Please Note: The detailed attendance policy can be found in your daughter’s academic planner. Please refer to this as needed throughout the school year or email the Attendance Office with questions: cfurtado@presentationhs.org.
From left to right: Lisa Tripoli, Lisa Brunolli, Shawn Matson, Jessica Pasa, Grace Lee and Patrick Lorenzo
Meet Our New Faculty Shawn Matson | Director of Speech & Debate Shawn Matson is the new Director of Speech & Debate and will also teach Rhetoric. He is a National Speech and Debate Association One Diamond Coach who has led students to numerous state and national placings. Shawn earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he grew up and recently moved from. Jessica Pasa | French Teacher Jessica fell in love with French when she first heard her grandparents speaking it as a little girl. She studied abroad in Toulouse and Paris and also spent a year living in Paris with her husband while writing a blog about life as an expat. She has been teaching French for three years at West Valley College, Leland High School and Notre Dame High School in Belmont. She lives in San Jose with her husband and baby daughter. Grace Lee | Digital Arts Teacher Grace Lee will be the digital arts teacher. She studied film production at the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing her graduate degree in education at Santa Clara University. Besides crewing on film sets in Los Angeles, she also worked as an art director in New York City and as a deckhand in the Philippines. 4
The Lantern | September 2016
Patrick Gabriel Lorenzo | College Counselor Patrick Gabriel Lorenzo will serve as a college counselor. He has worked in higher education for more than 12 years at three different institutions in California, with nine of those years spent in undergraduate admissions at both Santa Clara University and Saint Mary's College. He double majored in Political Science and Urban Studies & Planning UC San Diego’s Thurgood Marshall College. He also earned his Master's degree in Leadership from Saint Mary's. Patrick is a native son of San Jose and attended Bellarmine College Prep. He lives in San Ramon with his wife, Melody, and his two sons, Aeden (7) and Tiago (21 months). Lisa Tripoli | Educational Technologist Lisa will support students, teachers and staff in their use of technology at Presentation. For five years, Lisa was Technology Coordinator at a 1:1 laptop and technology magnet high school. She also taught darkroom, digital photography and animation as a classroom teacher for 12 years at the high school level. Lisa Brunolli | Vice Principal for Student Services and English Instructor Lisa is returning to her home in San Jose after serving for three years as the Assistant Head of School at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena. Before that, she served as an Assistant Principal at Archbishop Mitty High School. She is happy to be back in the Bay Area and grateful to be a part of the Presentation community.
College Counseling In the College Counseling Department, September has become the gateway to the college application season. As our senior meetings are well underway and workshops abound, the frantic pace that we often find ourselves in can be daunting. For students, finding time to work on college applications, essays, and supplements can be a challenge. To assist students, the college counselors have developed strategies to help the application process feel more manageable. We recommend that students with study periods use this time to tackle their applications.The College Counseling Center is open from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily and offers a quiet and comfortable space with access to college counselors. During their senior appointments, students will have the opportunity to create personal timelines to help them complete their applications in manageable amounts of time. To help students succeed, we encourage students to break up the long list of tasks into weekly goals.
especially needed during this time, as your daughter begins the first steps on her path to adulthood. The College Counseling Department is here for you as well. We encourage you to share your questions and concerns with us via email, telephone or by setting up an appointment. We are excited to be on this journey with you in partnership, and we hope you can take advantage of the services provided in the month of September. College Counseling Events in September Essay Writing Workshop for Students Sept. 6, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Valenzuela Theater Senior Parent College Night Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater Testing Night for Juniors Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
As the application process continues, the primary role of parents will be that of a listening ear. Your support and guidance are
If You See Something, Say Something High school is an exciting time for teenagers—a time of learning, personal growth, and cultivating new interests. But, at times, the teenage years can be notorious for experimentation, trying on new behaviors, bowing to peer pressure, and seeking (sometimes unhealthy) coping mechanisms. Every day, we see things, hear things, and know things about our daughters, their friends and classmates. As this school year begins, keep your eyes wide open, not only about your daughter and her activities, but the activities of her friends and classmates as well.
If you see something, say something. Parents, give yourselves permission to call each other regarding concerns you have. You might even use these words, “As a parent, I would want to know about this.” If you are uncomfortable doing that, call your daughter’s class counselor, the Director of Counseling, or one of the administrators. Parents and students have slipped anonymous notes under our doors as well. We are always available as a resource. It takes a village to keep our students safe. By: Peg Schrader, LMFT/ Dean of Students
Be alert for the following: 1. Mood changes 2. Changes in friend groups 3. Changes in sleep patterns 4. Changes in eating, significant weight gain or loss 5. Defiance 6. Substance use 7. Changes in appearance 8. Anxiety/depression affecting sleep, school attendance, and participation in social activities 9. Social media posts that may be concerning for any reason
Math and Science Colloquium
Cyber Security: Protecting Our Way of Life and Offering Vast Career Opportunities Thursday, Sept. 1 | Marian Stuckey Student Center | 7-8:30 p.m. Featuring Ronit Polak, VP for Quality Assurance at Palo Alto Networks www.presentationhs.org 5
Community Involvement
Campus Ministry
On the second day of Freshman Orientation, the Class of 2020 gathered to learn about Presentation’s Catholic identity. In keeping with the school motto, “Not Words, But Deeds,” Community Involvement led students in a service activity. In a matter of three hours, the freshmen made 910 sandwiches for City Team Ministries. Their hands were sticky and their hearts were full as they reflected on the importance of their work and the impact it would make on those in need. For our freshmen, we know this is just the beginning of a four-year commitment to service!
Campus Ministry started the school year by welcoming our newest Panthers to campus. During Freshman Orientation, our peer ministry team shared their experiences of attending a Catholic school and described how their faith has grown at Presentation.
September is the month juniors and seniors can apply for spring semester immersion trips. On Sept. 6, applications will be released on the Immersion Program page of the Presentation website under Faith & Service. Parents are invited learn more about our trips during an open house on Sept. 8 from 6-7 p.m. in the Presentation Library. Students interested in attending an immersion trip must attend a mandatory meeting on Sept. 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the gym. These life-changing immersion trips allow students to gain cultural experience, bond with their Presentation sisters and build community relationships through service. Please contact Lindsay Swoboda (lswoboda@presentationhs.org) with any questions regarding immersion trips.
On Monday, Aug. 15, our entire community gathered for an opening liturgy to celebrate the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary and introduce our theme for the year, “Blessed to Be a Witness.” On Sept. 9-10, our peer ministry core team leaders will participate in a retreat at the Presentation Center led by our campus ministers. On Sunday, Sept. 18, Presentation students will have the opportunity to gather for mass and breakfast with their mothers and any other special women in their lives at the annual MotherDaughter Communion Breakfast. Mass will begin at 9 a.m. in the courtyard; breakfast will begin at 10 a.m. in the gym. Please visit the Events section of the Presentation website for more information. On Friday, Sept. 23, the pastors and youth ministers of the Diocese of San Jose will celebrate Mass with the Presentation community. Bishop Patrick J. McGrath will preside. After mass our guests will have lunch with students from their parishes to make connections and discuss their youth ministry programs. Presentation’s Campus Ministry encourages students to stay involved with their parishes throughout high school. All freshmen will attend one of two retreats at the Presentation Center during the school year. Forms are due Sept. 2. Limited spaces are still available for the sophomore, junior, and senior retreats. Visit www.presentationhs.org/retreats for more information. To register, please email cfoley@presentationhs.org. These retreats are free and open to students of all faith traditions. We wish you a blessed beginning of this school year!
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The Lantern | September 2016
We are happy to announce our new program, Presentation Dance Company. This will be an after-school opportunity for students that are interested in dance. We will be offering the following classes: Lyrical Ballet Company Class Jazz III Hip Hop Jazz I Jazz II
Monday, 3-4 p.m. Monday, 4-5:15 p.m. Monday, 5:15-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 3-4:30 p.m. Friday, 3-4 p.m. Friday, 4-5 p.m. Friday, 5-6 p.m.
Dancers can select one class per week or be a part of the company and take multiple classes per week. In the company class dancers practice and learn advanced jazz, modern, and ballet technique while gaining experience in production, choreography and performance. Dancers who take this class are also required to take ballet and jazz.
Dance Team As the 2015-2016 school year came to a close, the dance team was just beginning its year! The current dance team consists of six new and 13 returning members. Our officers for the 2016-2017 school year are Mallory Andresen, Emily Schultz, Megan Maasberg and Tess Skulich. In June, the team attended its first camp of the summer at Abraham Lincoln High School. The team spent three days learning routines, participating in technique classes and bonding before earning the “Hardest Working Team” award, a “Superior” ranking and a “Teamwork” award. Lauren Wong was ranked among the “Super Sensational Dancers” at the camp. A month later, the girls went to Cal Lutheran for their second camp of the summer. Four days of hard work and dedication later, they earned another “Superior” ranking and a “Teamwork Award.” Once again, Lauren Wong advanced to the top ten of the “Super Sensational” competition. Our final summer trip was to Anaheim for the West Coast Elite Summer Experience. There, the team worked with amazing instructors from So You Think You Can Dance. Abby McCarthy, Lauren Wegner and Sofia Barrientos earned all-star rankings, with Sofia being awarded a scholarship to next summer’s camp. After such a successful summer, the dancers are looking forward to what the rest of the school year has to offer. If you would like to sponsor the dance team, please contact Sara Fugate at sfugate@presentationhs.org.
Sign-ups will be held on Friday, Aug. 26. Registration packets can be picked up from the dance studio.
Choir The 2016-2017 season for Presentation music students is quickly getting underway! The Voice Class is filled with girls excited to learn about singing as a solo art. The Piano Keyboarding I students are trying their hand at learning to play piano, and the Cantabile choir is discovering how to make many voices sound as one. Bella Voce again has exciting events on the horizon for this upcoming year, including invitation-only festivals at San Jose State University and Santa Clara University. Bella Voce also received word that they have been accepted to be a featured performance at the 2017 CASMEC (CA State Music Educators Conference) ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Convention held in San Jose this upcoming Feb. 16-19. The convention is for choral, band and orchestral music educators from throughout the state. This is extremely exciting news for our group and establishes our place as one of the best choral programs in California! Your first chance to catch both of our choirs in action will be at our fall gala concert, A Night at the Movies, on Oct. 7, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Valenzuela Theater. We are looking forward to the opportunities that this year will bring, and sincerely thank those who support us along the way! www.presentationhs.org 7
Athletics Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! I hope the beginning of the year has gone smoothly for you! I’m happy to be back at school and especially happy to see our fall sports back in action. We kicked off the semester with a meeting for all of our coaches that included a seminar from the Positive Coaching Alliance. During the workshop, our coaches participated in a series of exercises from the book Elevating Your Game. Written by PCA founder Jim Thompson, the book cites several tenets that help improve athletic performance including goal-setting, building team chemistry, honoring the game, competing with class and using your power to improve your school community. We are confident our coaches learned new tools that will help our student-athletes work on the mental aspects of their game.
Varsity Home Games Volleyball Thursday, Sept. 1 vs. Harker School | 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 vs. Menlo Atherton High School | 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral | 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 vs. Jim Reilly Varsity Panther Challenge | 8 a.m.
Water Polo Wednesday, Sept. 7 vs. St. Francis High School | 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Ignatius College Prep | 6 p.m.
Field Hockey Friday, Sept. 9 vs. Homestead High School | 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 vs. Archbishop Mitty High School | 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 vs. Leigh High School | 3:30 p.m. The Presentation Athletic Department is also focused on philanthropy. We are looking for students who want to get involved with the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) by volunteering with girls at Blackford Elementary School for an hour on Thursdays starting Sept. 29. Tell your daughters to stop by the Athletic Office for more information! We also encourage the spirit of philanthropy in our parents by encouraging you to join the Booster Club. Money raised by Boosters pays for essential components of our athletic program including assistant coach stipends and equipment for our teams as well as offsetting the costs of transportation. Your generosity entitles you to perks including free admission to home games. Register online by visiting the Booster Club page in the Athletics section of the Presentation website or stop by the Athletic Office for more information. Finally, winter is coming … so make sure to save the date for Game of Throws this spring! Our one-and-only fundraiser of the year will be held on Friday, March 25, 2017 in the Miller Athletic Complex. This fun night includes a Baggo tournament, great food and drinks, and much more!
Thursday, Sept. 29 vs. St. Francis High School | 3:30 p.m.
Tennis Wallenberg Park Tuesday, Sept. 13 vs. Notre Dame San Jose | 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 vs. Willow Glen High School | 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 vs. Archbishop Mitty High School | 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 vs. St. Ignatius College Prep | 3:30 p.m.
Go Panthers! Stacey Mallison Athletic Director www.presentationhs.org 9
Presentation “Speakeasy No. 2281” auction is now accepting reservations at www.presentationhs.org/auction. This is a sell-out event; reserve your seat now! Auction Highlights: • Live jazz band and surprise entertainment! • An exciting live auction with local trips, family vacations, private parties and other premium items • Silent auction tables with exciting themes such as: • Gatsby’s Garden • Al Capone Men’s Table • Jersey Shore: 1924 • Memorable Women of the Roaring ‘20s Auction Raffles: Bootleggers Barrel: Win big by purchasing a key for $100. One lucky winner’s key will unlock our specialty carved wine barrel and wine shelf stocked with premium wine! Pop, Fizz, Clink...Win!: Purchase a mini bottle of champagne with a corresponding number. If the auctioneer calls your number before the live auction starts, you’ll be able to select your choice of a live auction package. Each bottle is $250; there will only be 60 available for purchase!
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Auction Tables: Get the gang together! Put your table (of 10) together when you register online. Get ready to bid high and often; all of the proceeds benefit our students directly. RSVP by Friday, Oct. 7. Visit www.presentationhs.org/auction to reserve your tickets today! Auction Sponsors: Be an auction sponsor to earn amazing perks at the auction! All auction sponsors are invited to an exclusive auction sponsor party on Friday, October 7 graciously hosted by Mark & Connie Ajlouni. You won’t want to miss this pre-party! Check out the next page for a look at a list of perks. Auction Wish List Help us jazz up our silent auction theme tables and live auctions by taking a look at our online auction wish list! Requested items range in prices from $50 and up. Donate an item or allow us to purchase an item on your behalf by sending in a monetary donation. If you have a specialty live auction item or donation you’d like to make, please contact Special Events Coordinator Mattie Pasion at mpasion@presentationhs.org. All donations are tax deductible. To see our wish list and make a donation, please visit www.presentationhs.org/auction.
September 2016 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
For complete calendar visit www.presentationhs.org/calendar
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FRIDAY
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SATURDAY
Math & Science Colloquium, 7-9 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
5 School Holiday,
6 Speech & Debate 7
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13
15
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Labor Day LAMP Meeting, 7-9 p.m., Jenvey House Conference Room
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THURSDAY
Parent Info Night, 6-8 p.m., Library TADA! Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Reception Room
Senior Parent College Info Night, 7-8:30 p.m., Parent Board Meeting, Valenzuela Theater 7-8:30 p.m., Library Immersion Trip Open House, 6-7 p.m., Library
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Booster Board Meeting, 7-9 p.m., Library
18 Mother-Daughter Mass & Breakfast, 9-11:30 a.m., Courtyard and Gym
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19 Lantern League Meeting, 6:30-10 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
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20
Fashion Show Committee Kick-Off Meeting, 6-8 p.m., Marian Stuckey Student Center
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22 Auction Committee Meeting, 6-8 p.m., Library
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Testing Night for Junior Parents, 7-8:30 p.m., Valenzuela Theater
Student Holiday
SEPTEMBER 2016 Presentation High School The Lantern 2281 Plummer Avenue San Jose, CA 95125