NEWS | Page 4
Meet the new teachers and staff members
the
ARTS & LIFE | Page 6
SPORTS | Page 7
CATALYST Apple announces the new iPhone X
Cross country team off to a promising start
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S FINEST NEWS SOURCE
www.TheNDBCatalyst.com
Volume 4, Issue 1
@theNDBCatalyst
1540 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002
September 2017
OPINION
FEATURE
DACA
With 133 members, the Knights are the largest freshman class in 8 years
I dream of
NDB community welcomes the Class of 2021
by Isobel Senhaji Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst
We all saw it coming with the current administration. After all, immigration was such a hot topic during the debates and in the political rhetoric that has been spread throughout the world over the past several months. When news broke on September 5 that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would be revoked, it was almost to be expected. Affecting the lives of almost 800,000 DREAMers who are only given this status if they are seen as talented achievers and active members of society, DACA was enacted under former President Barack Obama through an executive order. Many Republicans believed that the president had overstepped his duties as commander in chief. According to current President Donald J. Trump, the revocation of DACA was simply brought forth in order to bring the DREAM Act back into Congress. For those of you who are unaware of the history of DACA and the DREAM Act, the DREAM Act was brought to Congress in 2001, only to be dismissed once reaching the floor. Nevertheless, Trump’s decision to end the program was faced with outrage from organizations, public figures, and common folk, calling for support from their local communities as well as those in Washington D.C. Here’s where things become inconsistent in regards to the president’s intentions: Throughout the 2016 presidential election, the Republican nominee spearheaded the movement to “build the wall” and, though never uttered himself, many of his supporters at rallies and on social media reiterated phrases such as “drain the swamp.” There were even points on the campaign trail where he deliberately See DACA | Page 3
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE MILNE
The Knights pose for their first class photo of many to come during the next four years. by Winnie Saulala Assistant News Editor @TheNDBCatalyst As the new school year started, the NDB community welcomed its newest little sisters, the freshman class of 2021, the Knights. This is the biggest class in recent school history with 133 students, beating the last year’s record of 126. The class was first welcomed by Link Crew and faculty and staff mem-
bers at Freshman Orientation, a two day program held a week before the actual first day of school. They played ice breakers and community building exercises, toured the campus to finder their classrooms and lockers, and reviewed school rules. Junior and senior Link Crew leaders helped the new freshman feel accepted and part of the community, so nobody felt left out, something to be wary of with such a large class.
Junior Emilia Dougherty said she “tried to be very enthusiastic, but at the same time real with them.” Many of the freshmen felt it was fun. Freshman Jessica Tablante said, “It was really spirited, and everyone was excited to see new people.” The freshmen class’ first day of school was “better than expected” as they felt included in all that NDB had to offer. Freshman Tiffa-
NEWS
ny Tse said that she “loved how welcoming the Notre community was because everyone wanted you to be included.” As their sister class, the junior class, the Titans, also stepped forward to help their little sisters get settled, whether it was by giving them advice about classes or showing them around campus. To celebrate the end of their first full week of high school, a Frosh Splash was held at Serra
High School and then a Frosh Social at NDB. Students from Mercy, NDB, Serra, and other local high schools were present at the dance. Provided with dancing, food, games, music, and a photobooth, everyone had an opportunity to meet new people and have a fantastic time. Freshman Emily Fletcher said, “I thought the dance was fun. Even See Knights | Page 5
NEWS
School implements late start schedule Large student turnout for
Most B-days begin with Teacher Office Hours Walk for Catholic Worker
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Seniors take advantage of free time before school starts at 9:20am. by Maggie Donaho News Editor @TheNDBCatalyst For the 2017-2018 school year, NDB implemented a new B-day late start schedule that begins with optional teacher office hours from 8:00 - 9:20am, homeroom from 9:209:30am, and then classes starting at 9:35am.
The intent of this new schedule was to give students more time to rest and prepare for their school day while still having time to meet with teachers for help. The school has been meeting with a NDB parent, a sleep specialist, over the course of a few years in regards to teenagers and the importance of
sleep. “For years, he has been asking us to consider late starts and, last year, we decided to play around with a B-day schedule,” says Associate Head of School for Student Affairs Carolyn Hutchins. According to the Better Sleep Council, along See Schedule | Page 4
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Juniors show off a banner during the walk. by Winnie Saulala Assistant News Editor @TheNDBCatalyst On the morning of September 16, students from Mercy, NDB, Serra High Schools came together for the annual Walk for Catholic Worker. It is a TriSchool community service event that raises awareness and funds for the Catholic
Hospitality House in San Bruno, an organization that provides for those in need with clothing, food, housing, and other services. Participants are encouraged to raise $40 to contribute to the cause. The students walk to make a difference, support social justice, and earn See Walk | Page 5
SEPTEMBER 2017
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Meet this year’s Editors in Chief Gaby Tiu Editor in Chief (Print) @TheNDBCatalyst
Printer not found
Hello Tigers! I’m Gaby, Editor in Chief of the print issues of the school newspaper, the Catalyst. My passion for storytelling, an interest prompted by my strong love for books, movies, and television, began when I was a little girl. I found myself filling notebooks and random pieces of paper with scripts, songs, poems, and short stories. No matter what changed in my life I always strived to keep reading and writing as a part of it. This passion has stuck with me and has now evolved into my role in journalism. This year, I’m incredibly excited to see what the Catalyst has in store. I hope that my role in the production of the newspaper fulfills its duty of providing the NDB community with honest, informative, and interesting news. I believe that good journalism provides people with a voice as much as it does with updated information and hope to achieve that with the newspaper this year.
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
The printer sits idle until a solution can be found to save paper and ink.
Michelle Kleytman Assistant Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst
Shreya Chatterjee Editor in Chief (Online) @TheNDBCatalyst
My name is Shreya, and I’m Editor in Chief for the online issues of the Catalyst this year. Since I can remember, I’ve loved to read. I still have the very first books I fell in love with sitting on my bookshelf, from “Goodnight Moon” to “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.” I read all through my childhood, even when I didn’t really understand what I was even reading: I misread the ending of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” and my mom had to explain it to me. Since then, I’ve reread the series dozens of times, of course. With reading, came writing. I’ve also been writing my whole life: I vividly remember sitting at my grandfather’s old, gray desktop computer when I was in elementary school and writing a story about two girls in Paris. I simply cherish the way I am able to create a story, emotion, sentiment, from only letters, words, and punctuation. In journalistic writing, I hope to write fairly and accurately, while keeping readers engaged. -- This year, we are thrilled to have both a Journalism class and club. The class meets on B-days during block 7. The club meets every Monday during lunch in room 124. Both work together to write stories that are printed eight times a year, alternating between 4 page black and white print issues and 8 page color ones, and posted online. The editorial staff welcomes submissions from the NDB community. We hope that the Catalyst is informative and useful and hope to keep you up to date on the important events and issues concerning our school, community, and world.
OPINION
You open a door and find yourself immediately catapulted into the action: a plethora of girls. The leader of the whole enterprise stands at the front of the wolf pack, standing tall with her chin up, knowing she will find what she needs and help others along the way. She holds a big, disorganized stack of papers, all black and white, and quickly glances on each one as she sorts through them. When she sees a familiar name in the upper corner of the paper, the leader turns around and passes it to a face that matches the name, unaware of what joy she has bestowed upon the girl who has been pressing her hands together, waiting for her paper to be printed. Time quickly passes as girls yell out how many minutes they have before the second bell. However, the leader, unruffled by the time that is left, keeps steadfastly sorting through the maelstrom of loose papers. The eyes look at the MLA header
where she knows to find the names, while her mind focuses on herself, hoping to benefit from taking charge to find her own paper. But, the leader realizes she has turned through all possible papers, which all seem trifling to her now. She is practically alone now; just her and this machine, both quiet. Then, a sudden whir of energy begins running. The machine starts humming, the lights start flashing, the papers start moving, the printer starts printing. Her perseverance availed: She got her paper. Now, you enter through that same door to the library where the printer and all of its chaos used to be, but no longer exists. Those girls, hopeful to print their paper at school because the one at home ran out of ink or because she forgot it on the printer tray or maybe never had one at home, don’t have a place to print anymore since the Administration shut down printing be-
cause students are wasting paper and ink. According to Associate Head of School for Academics Anne Schaefer, “There was an excessive amount of waste happening to the point where an entire ream of paper was being used per day and that was too much for what [the school printer] was intended to be used for.” With a crucial backbone now currently unavailable, what will girls do now? Where will girls go for their printing needs? What about teachers, some of which rely on the hard-copy syllabi, handouts, or essay prompts? We asked them what their opinions are on being bereft of a printer. Sophomore McKaela Glanville states, “I think that’s kind of frustrating and unfair because some people don’t have access to a printer at home.” Social Sciences teacher Marty Herrmann says, “There was huge amounts of paper being wasted, and it is an environmental and ethical concern.” He is the moderator for the Green Club that promotes ways to be waste-efficient and reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
He added he supports a solution that is “an appropriate and environmentally sound way that students could use the printer.” Herrmann’s classes have been using Schoology, an online resource that librarian Claudia Sarconi endorses. She says, “I think that students should be able to use [Schoology] and not waste paper...” There are also some who tend to be middle-of-the-road on the issue. Social Sciences teacher Jonathan Tomczak says, “Coming from schools that didn’t have laptops, something about having it in front of you and holding it in your hands is nice...” Schaefer added, “In order to help maintain the copy machine help live up to the commitment for a greener school and find a way to effectively manage the printing machine, we are looking into several options to be able to have that option [the school printer] available for students.” What will happen next? Will the question “Are you connected to the printer?” be asked by students anymore? Will teachers no longer return essays covered in red pen markings within the margins?
theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S FINEST NEWS SOURCE
EDITOR IN CHIEF (PRINT) Gaby Tiu gtiu18@ndhsb.org
OPINION EDITOR Isobel Senhaji isenhaji18@ndhsb.org
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Shay Levy slevy19@ndhsb.org
EDITOR IN CHIEF (ONLINE) Shreya Chatterjee schatterjee18@ndhsb.org
ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR Michelle Kleytman mleung17@ndhsb.org
DESIGN EDITOR Lizzie McGuire emcguire20@ndhsb.org
MANAGING EDITOR Frankie Dakin fdakin18@ndhsb.org
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Bella Lopez illopez19@ndhsb.org
PHOTO EDITOR Samantha Ramos sramos19@ndhsb.org
NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR Maggie Donaho mdonaho18@ndhsb.org
ASSISTANT ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Kaitlin McCarthy kmccarthy20@ndhsb.or
FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas rrojas@ndhsb.org
ASSISTANT NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR Winnie Saulala fsaulala19@ndhsb.org
SPORTS EDITOR Vanessa Velasco vvelasco18@ndhsb.org
ABOUT THE CATALYST The Catalyst is a student-run newspaper that is published eight times a year in print and 24/7 online for Notre Dame High School community. EDITORIAL POLICY The Catalyst accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as press releases from on and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Catalyst reserves the right to edit or reject submissions it deems objectionable. The views expressed in the Opinion section do not reflect the views of The Catalyst, Notre Dame High School, the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, or the Archdiocese of San Francisco, but are solely the views of the writer. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst. CONTACT US Notre Dame High School 1540 Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002 Phone: (650) 595-1913 Email: TheCatalystNDB@gmail.com Social Media: TheCatalystNDB
OPINION SEPTEMBER 2017
DACA: “Our nation is a nation of immigrants.”
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What you need to know about DACA “Congress, get ready to do your job - DACA!”
President Donald J. Trump’s tweet the morning of September 5 got many Americans out of their beds and onto their smartphones. The Trump administration officially announced its plans to end DACA, a program that deferred deportation for undocumented children that was put into effect during former President Barack Obama’s terms in office. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will not process anymore applications, and Trump will let the program run its course until its expiration as an executive order in six months. So, while the news hit Americans, has it hit high school students as well? The following information will educate you on what DACA represents, who it protects, and why it has been a topic of controversy lately. What is DACA?
MOLLY ADAMS/FLICKER CREATIVE COMMONS
Dreamers march in support of DACA at a rally in Los Angeles. From DACA | Page 1 pledged to end the program and deport illegal immigrants. The week following the official statement saying DACA would be revoked, Trump was quick to say during a press conference how much he supported DREAMers and the cause they represented, saying, “We’re going to show great heart. DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me, it’s one of the most difficult subjects I have because you have these incredible kids.” This statement is just one of many that comes to show how much his anti-immigrant “America first” rhetoric has softened. Regardless of whether or not Trump comes out criticizing and claiming slander against those calling his statements hypocritical, what is most significant is the support from highly influential entities such as the U.S. Con-
ference of Catholic Bishops, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and even our very own, NDB. The Catholic Church has seen these DREAMers, these people protected under DACA, as intelligent and successful contributors to society. This poses conflict because the current faces of a certain political party that use religion to back their moral and political stances seem to be the same ones that have countlessly stood behind whoever pounded their chests the loudest in support of the deportation of illegal immigrants. Again, this is relatively controversial when looking at what Republican poster boy, Ronald Reagan said back in 1981. In a statement, Reagan said, “Our nation is a nation of immigrants. More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and our capacity to welcome those from other lands. No free and pros-
perous nation can by itself accommodate all those who seek a better life or flee persecution...” “We shall continue America’s tradition as a land that welcomes peoples from other countries. We shall also, with other countries, continue to share in the responsibility of welcoming and resettling those who flee oppression.” However, the entire situation seems to be fueled by the toxicity of American superiority or even racism, which would not come as a surprise for most. While most social issues in the news these days seem to be explicitly black or white, it is my opinion that it needs to be a non-partisan issue because when it comes down to the raw truth of immigration in the U.S.: We are arguing whether or not basic human rights shall be acknowledged in a country that was founded with the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The acronym DACA stands for “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” and was made effective by Obama. It has benefited the lives of nearly 800,000 immigrants and has given them the opportunity to live, raise a family, and get an education in the United States. It would give children who are eligible a temporary legal immigration status in the United States for two years, so they can stay in the country while they file for permanent documentation. During Trump’s presidential campaign, he publicized his views of negativity towards the program and hoped to end it when he came into office. However, once elected, he spoke to ABC news and stated, “They shouldn’t be very worried. I do have a big heart...we’re going to take care of everybody.” Now, roughly nine months later, his administration states they will scrap the program. Who does it protect? The name “dreamers” became the label for those who were under protection of DACA. According to Immigration Equality, a LGBTQ immigrant rights organization, a dreamer must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible: • • • • • • • •
are under 31 years of age as of June 15, 2012; came to the U.S. while under the age of 16; have continuously resided in the U.S. from June 15, 2007 to the present; entered the U.S. without inspection or fell out of lawful visa status before June 15, 2012; were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making the request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or armed forces; have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor, or more than three misdemeanors of any kind; and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
It might sound too particular to do any good, but in total, DACA has granted approval 787,580 people who fall under those guidelines. Who are the Dreamers? Obama’s DACA program actually was the end result of a compromise after a bipartisan act failed to pass through Congress. That act offered a chance at permanent legal residency, known as “Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.” Hence, the acronym DREAM. Why is it in the news now? Those who oppose DACA from continuing believed that it was too much of a stretch under Obama’s executive power and believe that something as large as this program should be entirely up to Congress. Now, Trump is leaving any future of this program in the hands of Congress who have to have a vote of two-thirds within both houses. DACA supporters are looking more at who it benefits rather than who’s behind it, and see the work of a successful deferring program for immigrants that pose no threat to live a better life within the United States. And, while it was an executive decision carried out by Obama, previous Presidents have created programs like DACA as well. This controversial topic has had more than just politicians talking about it. Pope Francis is exhorting President Trump to let DACA remain as a program. According to many news sources, the Pope stated, “I have heard the president of the United States speak...He presents himself as a pro-life man. If he is a good pro-lifer, he should understand that the family is the cradle of life and you must defend its unity.” Additionally, while expressing his understanding of DACA, Pope Francis’ viewpoint is in accordance with many other pro-DACA supporters, stating he believes that DACA removal is not from within Congress, but comes directly from the executive branch.
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
DACA Repeal Discussion
On September 15 during lunch in the Innovation Lab, San Jose-based immigration lawyer and NDB alumna Jessica Jenkins, ‘99, lead an information session on the repeal of DACA and a discussion of what the NDB community can do in response.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has also shed some insight on its views on the rescindment of DACA: “The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans.” With such a powerful voice from the Church speaking out on the topic, many bear in mind hope that the Trump administration will reevaluate their stance. COMPILED BY MICHELLE KLETYMAN/THE CATALYST
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SEPTEMBER 2017
NEWS
NDB community welcomes the new teachers on the block
The Catalyst sat down with several of this year’s new faculty and staff members, asking them questions about their education and work backgrounds, their reasons for coming to NDB, their love for their subject area, and other random things. Interviews with new Mathematics teachers Dominic Cagnacci and Travis Lucian and Science teacher Abigail Vega were unavailable by print deadline.
Helen Ciernick Spiritual Life
Dr. Helen Ciernick, Spiritual Life teacher, is passionate about religion and also about teaching. “Getting students to understand where [religion] sits in their lives is important,” she says. Ciernick got her bachelor’s from University of San Diego, her master’s from University of Notre Dame, and her Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America. She has taught at Notre Dame de Namur University, Santa Clara University, and a small Catholic college in South Dakota. Though she loves teaching college, she also enjoys teaching high school. She says, “Teaching is what I love.” Some fun facts about her are that her favorite book is called “The Boys on the Boat” and that she loves to quilt. She is not a morning person and much prefers staying up late. Most of all, she loves how much this school cares about its students.
Rebecca Fisher English
Ann Forman was hired as an accountant and loves NDB’s atmosphere. She enjoys the free food and the flexibility her job entails. Forman grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts where she attended the University of Massachusetts for college, studying Psychology and Spanish. Her favorite book is said to be “The Ghost of Hannah Mendes” by Naomi Ragen. She loves watching the “Shrek” movie series. Her favorite music artists would have to be Steely Dan, Tears for Fears, and Chicago. She is a fan of the Boston Red Sox, Chiefs, and, of course, our local teams. She believes her best qualities are her compassion and empathy toward others, which she hopes to use to spread her positivity to others around her.
Ann Forman Accounts Payable
Allison Paske, English teacher, recently moved to California to begin her twelfth year of teaching. She loves English because it is a “beautiful outlet to express yourself,” saying that writing allows one to make sense of themselves. Since she was little, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She says, “When I was five years old, I used to line up dolls and give them math worksheets I made myself. I would grade them and put stickers on them.” She loves to read, noting that over the summer, she read eight different books. For those taking English this year, Paske has the following advice. She says, “Go outside your comfort zone. Look at it as an adventure!”
Allison Paske English
Art Palacios Visual Arts
Jonathan Tomczak Social Science
Rebecca Fisher is a new English and Social Sciences teacher. She attended college in Los Angeles before coming to Northern California. After getting her master’s degree and teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur University and taking a closer look at NDB, she knew it would be the perfect school. Some of her hobbies include reading, scuba diving, traveling, and watching theater. Her favorite genre is “modernized versions of classical stories.” One book in particular she mentions is “Romiet and Julio,” a modernized version of “Romeo and Juliet,” based around racial tensions in the United States. Fisher has advice for students wanting to go into Humanities. She states, “My advice would be to break it down and take everything in small steps.” She also touches on the benefit of social media, “Through social media and being a strong writer, you really can forge your own path.” Art Palacios is NDB’ newest Visual Arts teacher and has spent the last 19 years teaching the subject. He taught 3 years in Whittier, 9 years in Redondo Beach, and spent the last 6 years at a Native American school in New Mexico. He enjoys teaching Art because there is an element of surprise every day. Kids come in at the beginning of the year lacking confidence in their abilities. For him, it is about building up his students’ confidence and seeing them grow in their abilities. He loves that Art provides kids with a creative outlet and that the class itself tends to pose a less stressful environment than most other classes. Palacios describes what drew him to NDB. He says, “It was an excellent institution with an amazing body of students that were well rounded, spiritually oriented, good energy, and good spirit.” He says he enjoyed the spirit that he saw in the school and looks forward to the rest of the school year. Jonathan Tomczak teaches Social Sciences and has a deep appreciation for the stories it tells. “The more you learn, the more diverse and interesting the stories become,” he says. He believes that history offers many opportunities for students to develop skills that will be taken beyond the classroom and provide a more educated mindset when approaching issues that can be misconstrued by the media. Tomczak was inspired by his high school history teachers who “made subjects relevant. They made me want to become a teacher.” This is his first time teaching at an all-girls school. “I love that Notre Dame is a small school because everyone knows each other and is willing to say hello to you in the hallway,” Tomczak said. Overall, Tomczak wanted to thank NDB for being such a welcoming community. “I’m excited to further impact and become a part of the community myself,” he says.
Schedule: “Late starts allow me to structure my mornings in a more relaxing way.” From Schedule | Page 1 with simply experiencing exhaustion, insufficient sleep has been known to impair alertness, concentrating, judgment, learning, memory, problem solving, and reasoning. The new schedule is designed to be beneficial for everyone, from students to faculty and staff. Students that do not have the means of getting to school at a later time now have the morning hours to eat breakfast and study and spend time with other friends in the dining room. Most mornings are quiet until just minutes before homeroom starts. “Late starts allow me to structure my mornings in a more relaxing way,” says senior Savanna
Patrick. “I arrive to school in a better mood and I feel that I am more receptive to learn,” she continued. With an extended amount of time before school, some students feel that they are better able to prepare themselves to engage and participate actively in their classes throughout the day. Senior Gabby Fanucchi says, “I love having the time to sleep in because, if you’re someone like me with a busy schedule, then you know all too well about staying up late.” She also said, “The late arrival gives us the time to still get a good night’s rest.” Teachers also benefit from the late start mornings. They have time
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Juniors Anayanzi Tostado and Andrea Rios study with friends during morning breakfast. to create lesson plans and grade assignments. They also have time to meet with each other. as well as meet with students. English teacher Adam Currier says, “I have noticed on B-days that students seem more relaxed,
and I hear teachers like office hours more than collab because they are able to finish work more efficiently.” Hutchins says, “Collaborations were difficult because teachers had to control the homeroom while helping students.”
She also said, “We decided, ‘Why not flip to mornings, so students could get extra help?’ and it would benefit both the students who need help and students who need more rest.” Overall, the new B-day late start schedule
seems to have had a positive effect on students and teachers. NDB is considering plans to continue the schedule next year and to even expand it to A-days. With contributions by sophomore Parker Daley.
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
Knights: “...everyone wanted you to be included.”
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Advice to Freshmen
From Knights | Page 1 though I didn’t know that many people there, I still had a good time.” Juniors and seniors that attended said seeing how much fun the freshmen were having made them think of their own Frosh Socials and look forward to other social events even more. As they settled into the community over the past several weeks, the opportunity to choose their class name and become involved in student leadership arose. Many of them attended a leadership meeting and ran for several class council positions. Elections were held last week. The freshmen class chose Mia Rose Adao as its president, Andrea
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Freshmen friends smile at the Frosh Social. SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
The newly elected Freshman Class Council are ready to lead. Aquino as its vice-president, Maggie O’Brien as its secretary/treasurer, Carmela Zumot as activities director, Madeline Perry as athletics, Analiese Shelton as spirit commissioner, and Maya Madera as historian.
Adao said, “I hope to give everyone in our class a voice, to make them feel acknowledged, and to make a difference not just in my own class but in the whole community.” She looks forward to being able
to lead the freshman this school year. The NDB community put its best effort and care towards welcoming the freshman class between Link Crew and all the events for freshmen.
Students get glammed up for Viva Las Notre Dame dance by Fiona Quilter Contributing Writer @TheNDBCatalyst NDB held its first all-school social dance of the year on Friday, September 8. At the Viva Las Notre Dame all-school dance, most students sported stunning, glittery makeup. Through the predance activity “Glam, Glitter, Glow, and Games” hosted by Link Crew, students were able to get ready to party with help from their classmates. Senior Kelly Tobin reflects, “It was so nice to see everybody bond while having fun doing hair and makeup. We were singing, dancing, and best of all we had glitter!” Sister class bonding is always a great time, and the girls loved that they had a fun event to look forward to after their preparations.
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
What happens at the Notre dance stays at the Notre dance for these seniors. Once at the dance, students experienced an impressive DJ, themed treats such as chocolate covered coins, and enthralling card games to match the “Viva Las Vegas” theme. Sophomore Car-
oline McCoy exclaimed, “The atmosphere at the dance was incredible! I loved the Las Vegas theme.” The dance had a large turnout. It was amazingly energetic -- even a
few chaperones stepped in during some special songs to get their groove on. The Viva Las Notre Dame dance hopefully foreshadows many other wonderful NDB dances to come this year.
Walk: “...we came together to walk for a good cause.” From Walk | Page 1 community service hours. This year’s walk had the biggest turnout with a total of 200 students, 140 of them from NDB. The morning activities started off with playing ice-breakers to get to know each other and making posters to hold during the walk. Students were then divided into small groups prior to the walk and had the chance to meet other students from different schools. Afterwards they were brought outside to take pictures. Soon after that, the walk began. It is four and a half miles from Mercy High School in Burlingame to the Catholic Hospitality
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Juniors Kendall Scarborough and Amy Gilbert lead their classmates. House in San Bruno. Junior Jasmine Masuda said, “It was nice because we all came together to walk for a good cause. It was really fun.” The students got to walk through the neighborhood that they were
helping. Some students saw, for the first time, the community and got an understanding for the kind of work that the Catholic Hospitality House does for people and what the walk was really meant for. The large turn-
out was inspiring to many students and community members. It will hopefully encourage others to be more aware of social justice issues and for them to contribute to the movement.
by Gaby Tiu Editor in Chief @TheNDBCatalyst To any freshman that reads this, Congrats! You’ve made it through the first of the many, many months of high school. How are you feeling? Stressed? Don’t worry, that feeling never quite goes away. I’m here in print to tell you some things I wish I’d known or listened to when I was in your place, in those first moments of trying to settle in, of trying to balance new friendships, teachers, activities, classes, and pressures. Let’s start with the basics -- Things that everyone knows in the back of their heads, things that seem like common sense, things we still mess up on from time to time. First off, keep up with your work. Know how many things you can handle and how much is too much. Trust me, getting off to a good start and finishing work before it’s due is incredibly satisfying and sets you up for an easier school year. Write down things that need to get done, even if you think that you’ll remember them without doing so because the time may come when you’re in class and the teacher says, “Pass up [insert assignment here],” and you’re thinking, “Wait, we had to do that for homework?!” Don’t cram before tests. Let me guess, you’ve heard this one before, haven’t you? But we do it, and I’ve definitely made that mistake before. Getting ahead on studying gives you time to not only memorize content in a smoother manner, but also to communicate with teachers and other classmates if you don’t quite understand something. Those hours (or minutes) you would spend staying up late to cram could be better spent on precious sleep, which, no matter how good you think you are at pulling all-nighters, is very important to your mental and physical health. Bonus, getting ahead on studying is just overall less stressful. It’s okay to make mistakes or ask for help! Whether you find yourself raising your hand to answer something wrong in class or you get back a test you’d hoped you would do better on, don’t dwell on it too hard; mistakes can be just as important as successes as long as you know how to learn from them. Besides, nobody is perfect. That’s okay. Now, here are some of the things that took me a little longer to figure out. For one thing, going to high school doesn’t mean having to completely grow up. Sure, it’s a time to start takings things like college and independence and self-care more seriously, but it shouldn’t be a time where you feel like you have to change and grow up too fast just to do something like fit in. Be yourself, and take pride in that. Remember to laugh, smile, and find joy in the sweeter things that come alongside the bucketload of new sources of stress in high school. And remember that the friends you make during these next four years will most likely last you a lifetime. If you’re confused about where you want to go in life or college or friend groups or relationships or academics, you’ll figure it out. Maybe not now, and maybe not until way past graduation, but you’ll figure things out. Be patient, and in the meantime make the most out of this.
Fake news? Not here. theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S FINEST NEWS SOURCE
SEPTEMBER 2017
page 6
Consider the iPhone X
ARTS & LIFE
Apple releases the latest version of every teen’s other best friend
by Bella Lopez Arts & Life Editor @TheNDBCatalyst Apple has just announced information about its new and exciting iPhone X, known as “the future of the smartphone.” It costs $999 and has several unique features. One is the full screen made of stainless steel glass... meaning there is no home button, a staple of the previous phones. To unlock their phone, users can now simply just look at it with the new facial recognition technology. Then, to access the home screen, users must swipe their finger upwards. The cameras and sensors have been significantly improved to enable facial identification and even mirror user’s face movements onto the twelve new “Animojis.” And, on top of that, the phone can be wirelessly charged. With this new phone, Apple has taken a big step forward in the smartphone technology game. Are you going to get the new iPhone? The Catalyst asked three random students what they thought of the phone.
“I will admit the new iPhone looks exciting. I just don’t think any of the new features are necessary for me.” --Kendall Marquez, Junior
“The iPhone seems really cool, but super expensive... The facial recognition seems sketchy though.” --Ellie Molano, Junior
“I think the iPhone would be a good buy since it is made with stainless steel and... I constantly drop my phone.” --Kelly Nolte, Junior
“Radium Girls”: Rehearsals Lorenz performs with dance begin for Tri-School fall play troupe in Scotland theater by Keira Cruickshank Contributing Writer @TheNDBCatalyst On August 28, rehearsals began for the Trischool Productions fall play, “Radium Girls.” In the front row of the theater, sitting attentively in a faded orange chair is NDB senior Jillian Antunez, the play’s stage manager. She holds an already battered composition book on her lap and has a pencil at the ready. She has to be ready at a moment’s notice to carry out the tasks declared by the director, such as taking blocking notes, writing down necessary props, and occasionally reminding the excitedly distracted actors to focus. “Rehearsals can be very stressful, but I am excited to display my abilities as a stage manager,” says Jilly. On stage are NDB seniors Keira Cruickshank, Gabriela Fanucchi, and Grace Tillman, junior Hillary Tighe, and freshmen Annaliese Shelton and Maggie Stack. They are busy writing down the instructions the director is
giving them on where to move, how to speak, and how to capture the mood of each scene. At the beginning of each rehearsal, the actors all file in to the theater, chatting noisily all the while. When the director is ready to begin rehearsal, the company takes a few minutes to discuss the importance of each scene they are going to be running that day. Then the actors are up on their feet, receiving their blocking or movements, and then running through the entire scene multiple times. While they have a few chairs and tables already, the actors must pantomime the props that they will be using in the show. The stage crew has been working diligently on the expansive set on Sundays, so the actors are already able to get a feel for what the stage is going to look like. Multiple levels of versatile scenery, the set is impressive in its construction, and there is still more work to do. There are only a few more weeks before opening night. Beginning at the
closing of World War 1 and ending in the 1940s, the play documents the true story of factory women in Orange, New Jersey who painted glow in the dark clock faces on watches to aid the war effort. The paint that they used had a special ingredient that made it glow: radium, which was not yet known to be incredibly toxic. One by one, the girls mysteriously begin to get sick, the illness causing decaying gums and crippling joint pain unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. The radium company denies any possible correlation between radium and the sickness, as radium was then thought to be a miracle cure for many diseases. For years, the girls are entrenched in a contentious legal battle with their former employers, each growing sicker and sicker by the week. What follows is a harrowing tale of tragedy, love, and fortitude. The show will be playing at Junipero Serra High School on October 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 7:30pm. Go to www.TriSchoolProductions.com for more information.
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLLEEN LORENZ
Lorenz and company show off their excitement for their trip to Europe. by Kaitlin McCarthy Asst Arts & Life Editor @TheNDBCatalyst Over the summer, Dance teacher Colleen Lorenz went to Edinburgh, Scotland with her dance troupe NewGround Dance Co. in San Mateo. She, along with six other fellow dancers took part in a 50 minute spoken word contemporary dance based off of the effects of social media. The story starts
when social media was created, and how that paved the way for struggles with greed and its effects. All of the negative effects are taken out on Mother Earth, who eventually forgives the main character when she surrenders social media. The story asks its audience, “If you were Earth, what would you say to us humans?” This powerful message reminds us that our world needs to be taken care of, and if we do not protect our environment,
that could lead to a big problem. Perhaps spending less time on social media will give us more time to take better care of our planet. In addition to her performance, Lorenz’s return to Scotland provided her with another excellent opportunity to satisfy her wanderlust. Her favorite aspects of this particular journey to Scotland were performing for an international audience and the positivity that came with it.
SPORTS SEPTEMBER 2017
Cross country runners Water polo continues spring into action wins in new league
page 7 THE
GAME
SCHEDULE CROSS COUNTRY Chieftan Classic 9/9 at Time JV, 8th place Westmoor Ram Invitational 9/30 at 12:30pm WBAL #1 10/5 at 3:00pm
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Runners begin their warm-up run around the front lawn. by Lizzie McGuire Design Editor @TheNDBCatalyst Cross Country is so much more than running. It is a very challenging sport, both physically and mentally. Runners have to push themselves to their limits and have the mindset that they can do it. NDB’s junior varsity and varsity teams are off to a good season so far with some really promising freshmen, including Nieve Dandekar who runs on varsity. They completed their first meet at Toro Park in Salinas in early September. It was a little over three miles and full of challenges, including hot temperatures. But, both teams finished in the top ten. Runners work very hard
for their meets. They typically run three to five miles during each practice, working to improve their endurance and speed each time. Teammates always cheer for and congratulate each other when they finish a race. Ultimately, everyone wants each other to be motivated to push themselves this hard and to succeed. For the rest of September, the Tigers have a practice meet with Mercy, Serra, and Westmoor High Schools on Tuesday, September 26 and their next official meet is on Saturday, September 30, both at Westmoor. In October, they have the Serra and Crystal Springs Invitational on Saturday, October 7 and the Monterey Bay Invitational on Saturday, October 14.
ROBERT ROJAS/THE CATALYST
Junior Isa Mack prepares to shot block a Mercy player. by Michelle Kleytman Assistant Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst After entering the PAL league, Water Polo has made a comeback of epic proportions. For the first time in 10 years, the varsity girls won their first league game of the season. “What more can you ask for from a team? We have been doing great so far, just have to keep it up,” says Callie Malone, a sophomore defender on varsity. Not only have the scores been in their favor, but the Tigers also have been blowing the competition out of the water -- literally. With finishes like 11-4, 19-4, and 21-1, the team has upped their cohesiveness and confidence.
“I’ve noticed our team is much more confident walking into whatever game we are about to play,” says Senior and team captain Kavita Thomas. Both the junior varsity and varsity teams practice from 6:30 to 8:30pm, Monday to Friday, developing skills and bettering their water polo IQ not only by coach Mike Marques, but also “team dad” Sean Lawrence, a long-time swimmer who trains the girls on endurance and speed. “The girls had a ton of momentum coming off of last season, and they have really been coming together as a team. From my perspective, it was only a matter of time before they won their first league game. I am really proud of them!” says Coach Mike.
Cheer team ready to bring it on for competitions by Celeste Crews Contributing Writer @TheNDBCatalyst
Spirit is a large part of every high school and NDB is no different. The Cheer team, for example, exudes spirit and entices the student body to show their love and admiration for their school. Cheer season is a time for the team to showcase a high amount of tumbling skills and creative stunts. The team has been working hard every practice to perfect the routine that will be performed during competition season that begins in October. The competitive aspect of the team causes everyone to push hard in order to score well at competitions. Competitions cause stress on everyone because the team has a short amount of time to impress the judges. Routines are fast paced and action packed and leave no breathing time for the athletes to rest. Conditioning and weights are worked on outside of practice to ensure that each cheerleader has the stamina to persevere throughout the entire rou-
GOLF NDB vs Burlingame HS 9/20 W, 245-308 NDB vs SHP 9/25 at 3:30pm W, 268-286 NDB vs King’s Academy 9/27 at 3:45pm NDB vs Harker School 10/2 at 3:45pm
TENNIS NDB vs Mercy B 9/21 at 3:30pm JV: W, 7-0; V: W, 4-3 NDB vs NDSJ 9/26 at 3:30pm JV: W, 6-1; V: W, 7-0 NDB vs Woodside Priory 9/28 at 3:30pm NDB vs Mercy SF 10/5 at 3:30pm
VOLLEYBALL NDB vs Menlo School 9/19 at 5:45pm V: L, 3-0 NDB vs Harker School 9/26 at 6:30pm JV: W, 2-1; V: W, 3-1 NDB vs SHP 9/28 at 5:45pm NDB vs Mercy SF 10/3 at 5:45pm
WATER POLO SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Kristen Caprio, Ailesh Reed, Jordan Toms and the rest of the squad practice cheers for a Serra HS game tine. Each high school cheer routine consists of three parts: the music, cheer, and dance sections. The music section is a fast paced routine that mimics the routines that are competed at an all-star level. It showcases different aspects of cheer, including dance, stunts, and tumbling. The cheer section is created to entice the crowd and encourage
them to root for the school. A series of words about the school are said by the cheerleaders while they perform a motion section that includes stunts and tumbling. Lastly, the dance section is a high-tempo dance with sharp motions that end the routine on a strong note. The athletes’ hearts race with excitement and nervousness to impress the judges.
Because of the amount of teamwork involved, NDB’s cheerleaders have an amazing bond. With the absence of one athlete, the routine cannot be performed properly because formations and stunts are not legal without all needed players. The cheer team’s main goal for the season is to win the national competition in Anaheim. The first step to achieve this goal is to qual-
ify to compete at nationals. This qualification, or “bid,” can be received at any of the competitions that the team is competing at this season. Once a bid is received, the team is invited to Anaheim to compete against the best teams in the same division. The NDB Cheer team has the motivation and skills to win nationals and has a strong season ahead!
NDB vs Mills HS 9/21 at 5pm JV: W, 10-6; V: W, 19-7 NDB vs San Mateo HS 9/26 at 7pm V: W, 19-6 NDB vs Terra Nova HS 9/28 at 6pm NDB vs Capuchino HS 10/3 at 4pm
Follow @NDBAthletics @TheNDBCatalyst
SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWS What did you do on your summer vacation? A day in the life of a Tiger page 8
Readers share their photos with The Catalyst for one last look at summer
Just some of the things that have happened to our readers over the past month...
PHOTO COURTESY OF PREYASI KUMAR
Juniors Preyasi Kumar and Vanessa Pan take a selfie during the solar eclipse. Kumar is sporting her “eclipse glasses,” the only safe way to look directly at the sun.
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
Spiritual Life teacher Angela Pollack distributes communion during the Mass of the Holy Spirit, held annually at many Catholic schools to celebrate the start of the year.
(Starting from top left and moving clockwise) 1. Sophomore Natalie Foad starred as Rosie Alvarez in Serra High School’s new Theatre Camp production of the musical “Bye Bye Birdie.” 2. Senior Brenna Barrett participated in an internship with a professional chef in France, expanding her cooking skills. 3. Senior Brittney Kitaura participated in her Buddhist temple’s’ annual Obon Festival. 4. Senior Emma Loaiza and her family traveled through Bali, Boreno, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur. 5. Senior Lauren Haverty competed in the AAU volleyball tournament in Orlando, Florida. 6. Juniors Isa Lopez, Sarah Lim, Preyasi Kumar, Kennedy Nelson, Caroline Divney, Johana Ligtenberg, Rachel Liu, and Julia Hebrok went on a camping trip in Half Moon
Sunga sisters volunteer on Philippines service trip by Gabrielle Tiu Editor-in-Chief @TheNDBCatalyst Senior Krystelle and Sophomore Arabella Sunga took a one-month trip with their family to the Philippines this past summer to work with young orphans. Their trip took them to Saint Rita’s Orphanage and the Dominican Sisters Aeta Ministry, two places located in an impoverished, remote region in the mountains. In the time they spent there, they performed various acts of community service, such as teaching the children Tagalog and basic English, preparing and serving meals, joining them in games during playtime, and purchasing new clothes, toiletries, and groceries to distribute to children and families. Krystelle Sunga
explained her and her sister’s mission to “not just help, but to make the kids and their families happy!” The Catalyst asked Krystelle about the emotional impact her trip had on her, to which she replied, “There’s this little girl named April who suffers from hydrocephalus [a buildup of cerebral fluid which causes severe brain damage]. I met her 2 years ago and was very happy to see her again. The first time we met she could barely move because of the size of her head and this time around I was delighted to see her walking.” Volunteers such as the Sunga sisters raised funds to help pay for the surgery that April needed to save her life, as well as funds to rebuild classrooms at the children’s schools. There they also met a 7-year old, John, a boy who helps his family
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY HUERTA
Some Mavericks pose for a group picture during the annual Senior Giants Game on Friday, September 15. The Giants lost to the Diamondbacks, 3-2.
Humans of NDB: Ameera Ghuman
COURTESY OF KRYSTELLE SUNGA
Krystelle and Arabella talk with children as they eat lunch.
making charcoal, producing one sack after several days of work only for a profit of the equivalent to 60 US cents. Despite his setbacks, John continues to attend school and has hopes of fighting his way out of poverty. These amazing children’s stories have
strongly inspired and touched the hearts of Krystelle and Arabella who grew up doing volunteer work in the Philippines such as this. They plan to continue helping these children and families and hope that their mission inspires people to also work for those who need our help most.
SAMANTHA RAMOS/THE CATALYST
“One of my favorite things about me is that I’m Indian. I go to India pretty much every summer, and I just really love the culture. One of my favorite foods would be bharta, which is like eggplant, and it’s really good. I love Indian clothes; my favorite clothes to wear is probably like an anarkali. I also love Indian weddings. Being Indian is my identity. I’m Sikh, and I wear a Sikh bracelet every single day because I’m proud of my identity. So, I love Indian weddings, my favorite event at the Indian wedding is the mehndi bhutan because that’s the event where you get all the henna done, and it’s really pretty.”