The Catalyst, Volume 9, Issue 2: October 2022

NDB prepares for fall spirit events

by Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer

As the school year fades into October and students settle into their classes, NDB’s stu dent and staffulty leaders prepare for all of the spirit activities that come during the Halloween season. The community looks forward to celebrating the annual

fall Spirit Week, Link-OWeen, Dingbat Rally and of course, Halloween.

Monday, October 24 through Friday, Octo ber 28 is Spirit Week at NDB, and students will be allowed to dress up accord ing to daily themes decided upon by ASB. On the Mon day following, October 31, students will dress up in Halloween costumes in

NDB defeats Menlo in the Dig Pink game

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

On the evening of October 6, fans filled the stands of the Moore Pavil ion with high energy and loads of adrenaline. The NDB Varsity Volleyball team put up a fight against Menlo School, winning the Dig Pink game. The fresh men and JV teams also won their games.

Leading up to the games, the week was filled with preparation for the school-wide event. NDB students held bake sales, wore Dig Pink spirit gear and geared up for the big event. Advertised as a spir it point event, eventually won by the Dragons, NDB students were heavily influ enced to attend the game and support the Tigers.

The NDB Varsity Spirit Squad was also in at

tendance, seated in front of Serra HS’s award-winning band. Together, they were able to connect the music to the dances and lead the crowd through the thrilling game.

The teams be gan warming up as nerves racked the crowd. After losing one of the team’s top players, senior Ciara Mangan, to an injury just days before the game, team members were worried about their performance on the court.

Menlo came in with confidence, winning the first set 21-25. NDB, catching up, took the sec ond set with a score of 2521. NDB lost the third set with a close score of 23-25, but they took the crown for the fourth set, 25-16. With stakes high, the NDB

observance of the holiday. The day will close with NDB’s annual Dingbat Ral ly, filled with games, cheer ing and surprises.

“They can ex pect it to be similar to the Welcome Back rally but more themed for Hallow een,” said ASB Spirit Di rector Zeina Zumot. “They [should] just come with a lot of spirit.”

In the past, themes have been split into subcat egories – either assigned to sister classes, upperclass men versus lower classmen or an open choice. This year, the themes are Barbe que Dads vs. Soccer Moms on Monday, Babies vs. Boomers on Tuesday, Class Colors on Wednesday, Ce lebrity Day on Thursday and 80’s Neon on Friday.

Preparations for the week began long before the an nouncement of the themes.

Recent develop ments with disciplinary measures at NDB have complicated Spirit Week, as the first two days were revoked until students were able to improve respect for the school space.

“I’m super frus trated knowing all of the

anticipation and work that went into making these spirit days possible,” said ASB Activities Director Caitlynn Reynolds. However, with students motivated to re gain their spirit days, be havior improved and Spirit Week is back on. Other ac tivities planned for Spirit

Emergence of rainbow fentanyl in the U.S. puts children and teenagers at risk

by Editorial Staff

The fentanyl cri sis in the United States has drastically worsened in recent months, driven by the new production of “rainbow fentanyl,” a dead ly drug seemingly targeted toward children and teen agers.

Fentanyl, an ex tremely addictive synthet ic opioid, is the world’s deadliest drug. It is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and caus es around 60,000 over dose-related deaths in the U.S. annually. It is often mixed with other opioids to increase its strength and create a short-term high, and most fentanyl overdos es occur when a user takes a dose of what they believe to be heroin or cocaine, but is actually a lethal dose of fentanyl.

The U.S. has been in the midst of an opioid crisis for over 20 years. The number of deaths caused by opioid overdose increases annually, and the percent age of those deaths that are caused by fentanyl grows greater each year as well. In 2021, 80,000 people died from opioid overdose, and

70,000 of those deaths were fentanyl-related.

As the number of fentanyl overdoses in the U.S. continues to increase, a new type of this drug entered the illegal market and poses a major threat to young generations. In August of 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Admin

istration began to find and seize “rainbow fentanyl,” a new, brightly-colored type of fentanyl. The candy-like nature of the drug puts all people, especially children and young adults, at risk of accidental ingestion and overdose. As of October

KATE DAVIDSON / THE CATALYST

Rainbow fentanyl is being disguised as candy, making trick or treating especially dangerous during the Halloween season.

MOLLY PHAN / THE CATALYST

ASB Spirit Director Zeina Zumot works on signs representing each of the Spirit Days to hang in the hallways.

National fentanyl crisis worsens

From FENTANYL | Page

1

2022, the drug has been found in 21 states.

“Rainbow fentan yl – fentanyl pills and pow der that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes – is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said Drug Enforcement Administra tion Administrator Anne Milgram.

As Halloween ap proaches and candy sales rise, the manufacturers and dealers of “rainbow fentan yl” are disguising the drug as candy. It has been found in lethal amounts packaged in wrappers, such as Skit tles and Nerds, as the bright color of the drug makes it hard to differentiate from the candy.

Trick-or-treating

is a classic Halloween tra dition for millions of young children and teens, but as “rainbow fentanyl” con tinues to be disguised and marketed as candy, many parents are concerned for their children’s safety. Old er teens attending Hallow een parties are not only at risk of eating fake candy, but also of consuming druglaced food or drinks. While accidental drug or opioid consumption at parties has always been a threat, the widespread production and distribution of “rainbow fentanyl” creates an even greater risk for teens.

“I’m hoping that with education and a real understanding of what this stuff is … that people will have enough of an under standing and a legitimate fear to not take this stuff,” said nurse and NDB mom

Bridget Wylie. “Educating young people, having them understand the serious ness of this, the danger … It’s not enough to just say, ‘Don’t do it.’ Why? Why should you not do it? And, I think that explaining that in a way that is honest, is a really good thing.”

As exposure to lethal amounts of fentanyl becomes more common, it is important to be aware of the actions that can save a life. In the case of acciden tal consumption or over dose, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone, a medication used to reverse an opioid overdose quickly. The rise of the fentanyl cri sis has parents and guard ians all over the nation worried, and it is becoming common to carry naloxone on-hand in case of an acci dental overdose.

Fathers and daughters go to the carnival

by Kate Davidson News Co-Editor

The NDB Moth er’s Club held their annu al Father Daughter Dance on Saturday, October 8 in the Father Downey Gar den. This year’s theme was “Fall Carnival”, and the dads and daughters danced and showed their competi tive side through carnival games.

Throughout the night, the girls danced with their dads and played games that were set up in booths in the Father Downey Gar den. The games included whack-a-mole, football throwing, crossbow shoot ing, golf and many more.

“The dance ex ceeded my expectations,” said senior Ciara King ham. “There were so many

things to do and it felt like a real carnival. Even though the line was the longest for the crossbow, it was still my favorite game.”

Epicurean provid ed hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders and tater tots, and there were plenty of treats such as candy and snow cones, and it would not be a true carnival with out cotton candy.

The special guest of the night was an enter tainer on stilts who wore an extravagant costume, mingling and posing with guests.

“The best part of the night was taking pic tures at the photo booth and eating the cotton candy and snow cones,” said junior Caitlin Degnan.

Raffles were held every 30 minutes, and girls

and their dads won gift cer tificates to popular stores and nail salons.

“I really liked how it was a carnival instead of a dance because it was more fun and there were more activities,” shared ju nior Reese Lancaster. “My favorite part was the raffle because it made the games more competitive and was a good way to bond and work together with our dads.”

Students appre ciated the opportunity to spend time with their dads and friends and the hard work of the NDB Mother’s Club.

Attendees en joyed their experience at this year’s Father Daugh ter Dance and are looking forward to attending again next year.

Students gear up for Spirit Week

From FALL SPIRIT| Page 1

Week include the annual school Halloween competi tions – a pumpkin carving contest, a costume contest and a baking contest. Each competition, which takes place on a different day of the week, is split into cate gories such as “tastiest” for the baking competition and “best staffulty costume” for the costume contest. Spirit points are awarded to the winners’ classes, and win ners are decided by ASB.

Outside of ASB,

students are gearing up for spirit days in hopes of winning contests and spirit points for their classes.

“I am excited about getting to dress up with my friends and have a fun thing to do,” said sophomore Annie Stump. “My favorite part [from last year] was definitely how fun everybody made it. And how cute all the pic tures were.”

The staffulty has historically played a major role in Halloween festivi ties, serving as secret judg

es for competitions, occa sional rally participants and competitors in the staffulty costume contest, in which departments go head-tohead in a group contest.

“We usually have a department group theme costume,” said Isabelle Haithcox, science teacher. “We haven’t settled on ours yet, but we’re working on it slowly.”

For now, prepara tions continue in hopes of creating the best Hallow een activities to date.

Kairos retreat returns for Fall 2022

by Kate Davidson News Co-Editor

On Friday, Oc tober 7, 20 juniors and seniors returned from a week-long retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains. Kairos, a religious retreat offered to upperclassmen, provides students with the opportunity to reflect on themselves and their relationships with others through student-led activi ties.

Kairos is an an nual NDB tradition that was brought back for the first time last year since COVID-19. Upperclass men are happy to enjoy the experience and underclass men hear about a tradition they will soon be able to share.

The beautiful scenery along with the dis

tance from school allows students to focus on their spiritual growth.

“Kairos is about finding how God, the uni verse and Mother Nature, fits into your life and how you fit into it,” said leader Wendy Connolly.

The details of the retreat are kept a secret to make the memories made private and personal to the group that attended. An es sential part of the Kairos experience is surprise and embracing the unexpected.

“People might be apprehensive about going and not knowing what to expect, but I’d say it’s one of the best things because you get so much out of it,” said senior Kairos leader Caitlynn Reynolds. “It’s such a great time for per sonal growth and reflec tion, and sometimes Kairos

comes when you need it most.”

Students who at tended Kairos have found great value from the retreat, sharing positive experienc es and recommending it to students who may be con sidering going in future years.

“I recommend that students go to Kairos if they want to go to Kai ros,” said Connolly. “If you get talked into it, you don’t really want to go but you’re going, you’re not open to the magic that is Kairos. But if you’re open to it, it can be an amazing experi ence.”

For students in terested in experiencing a transformative NDB tra dition, there will be more opportunities to come and future retreats to look for ward to.

GRAPHIC BY EVA NICHTER / THE CATALYST

Staggering fentanyl statistics grow amid the ongoing opioid crisis in the U.S.

KATE DAVIDSON / THE CATALYST

ASB officers discuss their plans for the seasonal spirit activities at NDB.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAYNA SOCKOL

NDB students pose with their fathers at the Fall Carnival.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTHA ANNE KUNTZ

Four teachers and four student leaders led this year’s fall Kairos retreat.

Environmental Science students reopen NDB’s greenhouse

by Kayla Hollister Staff Writer

Two years after its closure in 2020 due to NDB’s shift to online dis tance learning, Environ mental Science students are beginning to use the school’s greenhouse again.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to online school, NDB science students had the opportunity to spend time in the greenhouse growing plants and learn ing more about them. The greenhouse is located on NDB’s second floor by the science classrooms.

It is filled with pots and hand-painted wooden planters, still decorated by the plant markers with the names of students from 2020 classes. The green house closed in March 2020 when NDB classes went fully virtual and has not been used in classes since.

On Friday, Sep tember 30, Block 4 of the Environmental Science course entered the green house during class to set up their group composting experiments. The students, in groups of four or five, had been planning these composting experiments

for the past several weeks as part of a larger study of food waste and sustainabil ity. The experiments repre sent a practical application of what the students have learned about the process of composting and the groups will compete to see which one has produced the most efficient compost setup. Each group set up their compost container and materials and has been per forming regular check-ins.

Environmental Science teacher Rebecca Girard hopes to have all groups’ compost completed in the next several months. Once the compost, which

acts like a fertilizer to en courage plant growth, is completed, the students will have the opportunity to begin growing whatev er plants they wish in the greenhouse.

“I want to grow strawberries,” said junior Cailin Thompson.

Though the Envi ronmental Science students are currently the only stu dents utilizing the newly reopened greenhouse, Gi rard hopes that future years will see the greenhouse return to the educational resource it once was before the pandemic.

Admissions season for the Class of 2027 begins at NDB

by Molly Phan Editor in Chief

The fall season is an important time for leaders on campus as NDB begins to welcome pro spective students into the community. NDB’s annual admissions season began in September and will con tinue until January. Ad missions events are led by student ambassadors and include shadow days, class room visits, Tiger Talks and Open House.

NDB’s ambassa dor program is led by the Ambassador Board. This group of around 15 students manages the Ambassador

Club and represents NDB at all admissions events.

“The role of Am bassador Board at Notre Dame is essential to our community as we host all the outward facing events for the prospective fami lies and new incoming stu dents,” said Ambassador Board Co-President Stella Affrunti.

The most popular admissions events among eighth grade students are shadow days. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, prospec tive students have the op portunity to “shadow” an NDB student on campus for the day. They visit classes they are interested in, tour

the school and enjoy lunch with their shadow host.

“Shadowing is really the best way to get the NDB experience,” said Ambassador Board Shad ow Manager Anna Keim. “Eighth graders have the chance to meet teachers or coaches and talk to students who they may be going to school with next year.”

There are several other ways for incoming high school students to learn about NDB, including classroom visits and Tiger Talks. Board members trav el to local middle schools to give presentations about NDB and talk about the application process. They

also host off-campus events where parents and students can come to ask questions before making the import ant high school decision.

Open House is also an important event because it showcases all aspects of NDB. Student ambassadors lead tours, teachers and coaches are available to answer ques tions about their respective classes or teams and stu dent representatives share about student life.

This year, Open House will fall on October 23 and is open to students of all grades and their fami lies.

Mock election prepares seniors to vote in November midterms

by Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer

On October 10 and 11, the NDB student body participated in the California Student Mock Election for the upcoming midterm election on No vember 8. The mock elec tion is hosted by NDB’s National Honors Society Board (NHS) and serves to prepare eligible students to vote while promoting voter education.

The midterm elec tion on November 8, 2022 is the first national elec tion since the presidential election of 2020. Midterms elect new governors and congressional represen tatives to represent one’s state in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Six NDB seniors will be 18 years old by the day of the election and therefore eligible to vote in the midterms. This is a major event for first-time voters, as it will be their first experience exercising their Constitutional right to participate in the nation’s democratic system.

The NHS Board stages mock elections ev ery two years following the California Student Mock Election program, a state wide program in which

On October 10 and 11, NDB

middle and high school stu dents are provided with the opportunity to learn more about the candidates run ning to represent California districts and what the state wide propositions on the ballot are supporting. The mock election prepares all students, especially seniors getting ready to vote, for the actual process of voting and to do so in an educated manner.

“Participating

in the mock election will make it easier for me to navigate the voting process when the midterm election rolls around,” said senior Bridget Sennett. “It also gave me a chance to see what other candidates are running … This will allow me to make more educated choices when I vote in No vember.”

For NDB’s mock election, students vote on the most significant feder

al positions and all prop ositions for the state of California. To prepare, the board sends the student body a slideshow includ ing candidate names and statements for Governor, Senator and House Rep resentative as found in the California Voter Informa tion Guide. It also shows the full California Propo sition Information Guide which includes all pro posed bills that will be on

the ballot and background information for each. With this information, students have a good idea of who each candidate is and what each proposition stands for so they can participate in the mock election in an ed ucated manner – mirroring hopes for the real-life elec tion process.

“Schools have a unique opportunity to take a community that a school is and simulate what voting

in that community looks like,” said NHS Board Ad visor and U.S. Government teacher Jonathan Tomczak. “It’s the same reason that we have student council elections and homeroom president elections here. It’s not just about getting those leadership positions filled. It’s also about students un derstanding that they have a vote and a voice in how their community is run, and it starts at school and then it continues out into the larger world.”

The votes for the 2022 midterm election were cast by the students in English classes for every grade. The election had a 90.78% turnout rate, mean ing that more than nine in ten students decided to fill out their ballots. Many stu dents who participated ap preciated the election as a chance to become as close to voting as possible, pre paring them to vote in a real election in the future.

“[The] people you vote for determine a lot of things that could affect you in the short term or long term,” said freshman Aleeya Baqai. “And if you don’t take action now then things could get worse.”

LAUREN FITZGERALD / THE CATALYST

students participated in a school-wide mock election.

GENEVIEVE KLEIN/ THE CATALYST

Eighth grade students and their families are welcomed by members of the Ambassador Board.

GENEVIEVE KLEIN / THE CATALYST Environmental Science students grow a variety of plants in the greenhouse.

Board Editorial: We need to respect our school

by Editorial Staff

After several warnings about the messes left in the Father Downey Garden after lunch, Head of School Meredith Es salat announced that eating in the garden would be prohibited, effective October 10.

While this decision was meant to encourage students to clean up after them selves and respect the newly renovated out door space, the garden being off-limits instead sparked a sep arate issue surrounding seating and seniority. For years, an un spoken rule among the student body says the dining hall is re served for upperclassmen, and underclassmen must sit outside, primarily in the Father Downey Garden. But, to ensure that all students had a place to eat, Es salat officially opened the din ing hall to all students, irritating many of the seniors.

As this new seating com petition has emerged, attention has been diverted from the true issue at hand: Our campus is being treated with blatant dis respect. In addition, the lack of effort by the student body to correct mistakes has led to worsened behavior. Messes have quickly become deliberate acts of destruction and vandalism. Broken ceiling tiles, paint poured out in the bathroom and misused athletic equipment are just a few examples.

Frustrated, ASB officers held a school-wide assembly on October 11 that

emphasized the administration’s call for respect. They announced that, because of students’ misbehavior, the first two days of Spirit Week have been taken away and will not be awarded back unless rules are followed and behavior is corrected. Spirit days are a beloved NDB tradition in prepa ration for Halloween, so many students are upset by the recent loss of some spirit days due to the actions of a few students.

tensive resources that allow us to learn, grow and celebrate one another. It is a great privilege to attend a private school, and students must recognize this and treat the facilities provided to them with respect. The inconsiderate behavior that has been seen on campus recently is not reflective of students who are grateful for their educa tion. We should be constantly expressing our gratitude toward every single commu nity member, as NDB would not foster such a supportive environ ment without them.

The goal of a high school is to educate and prepare teenagers for college and adulthood, which requires a high level of maturity from students as they prepare to start a new chapter in their lives. The destructive actions of students on campus are absolutely imma ture and do not meet the expecta tions of a high school student. As a student body, we can do much better.

The Catalyst is disappointed in the student body and recognizes that the de struction of our campus affects everyone in the community. These acts of vandalism are simply immature and not a reflection of an NDB student guided by our Hallmarks.

The NDB campus is home to the ex

This disrespectful behavior is not a fair treatment of the staffulty, especially coaches and teachers, and administrators at NDB who work so hard to provide students with the best learning experienc es. We must come together as stu dents, not just to earn back the privileges we have lost, but also to show our administrators and staffulty the respect that they deserve.

Tigers, we have to clean up after ourselves, we have to respect those around us, and we have to hold ourselves account able.

Letter to the editor: Essalat responds to mentrual products issue

Meredith Essalat Head of School @TheNDBCatalyst

With the passing of AB-367, also known as the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021, no student should ever have to expe rience a lack of access to period products again. Ac cording to Medical News Today, “Globally, an esti mated 500 million people who menstruate lack access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities.” That is simply unacceptable.

While AB-367 requires all public schools in California to supply free menstrual products in at least one facility on their campus, private academic institutions should be held

to the same standard. Pe riod poverty is pervasive, limiting access to the prod ucts necessary to maintain one’s personal, physical and emotional health and well-being. There is no dis tinction between the need for access to menstrual supplies at a public versus private school. Students are students, and all students deserve to have their basic needs met when it comes to menstruation.

I am grateful to The Catalyst for identifying this need at NDB.

As we continue to empower all students, it is essential that we align our

selves with best menstrual practices. Therefore, dis pensers in both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms have been altered to no longer require payment for products.

Additionally,

updated dispensers have been ordered for both the basement bathroom as well as the one located in the Moore Pavilion so that they are easier to use. These will be routinely checked and refilled, as needed, by

members of our janitorial team.

If anyone finds them empty, Ms. Tauskey will continue to have sup plies available for any stu dent who requires them.

As we seek to

maintain access for all, I would only ask that we are mindful to take only what we need in any particu lar moment so as to make certain that resources are available to everyone.

MEGAN WORRY / THE CATALYST

Menstrual products have been made available and accessible in campus restrooms.

AVA MARINOS / THE CATALYST

OPINION

Community college becomes an increasingly better option

Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

On January 1, 2023, community college will become free for thou sands of students in San Mateo County. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law SB 893, a California bill supported by local elected leaders and students alike, which elim inates a $46-per-unit man datory cost for low-income students.

“Every student deserves access to high

er education,” said State Senator Josh Becker in an Instagram post on the matter. “Costs are too high currently. This bill changes that for students in the San Mateo County Community College District. It will not only allow for free tuition, but will waive many fees and support transportation and housing for low-in come students.”

Students across the nation are considering

community college now more than ever as a means of saving money or staying home for a few more years, all while working towards a degree.

While unit fees will be eliminated, costs can still add up. Between textbooks, transportation to campus and general fees from the cost of living, many students may contin ue to struggle to fund their education. However, the new law is a start and an in dicator that as community college is destigmatized, its advocates will become the majority.

At NDB, around two percent of graduating seniors attend communi ty college each year, and

ultimately transfer to a four-year university after two years. That number jumped with recent gradu ating classes impacted by COVID-19. Many students expressed a disinterest in paying the cost of a fouryear university while losing access to facilities or being unable to attend the campus all together.

So is community college as good an option as a four-year university? It depends on a lot of factors. Sure, a bachelor’s degree may push a job application to the next level, compared to an associate’s degree. But the money saved on tu ition never spent can fund a down payment on a home, or professional develop

ment opportunities, or edu cational travel experiences – all budget items that can help secure a job or ad vance a career just as much as that fancy degree. In the end, community college may not be for everyone, but it is an opportunity that should be considered by all. Just because it does not carry the social weight and implications that some may prefer does not indicate its importance and benefits.

Community col lege has historically been a more accessible option in higher education, and this new bill makes the oppor tunity open to more stu dents than ever before.

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” helps to promote diversity

Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Disney’s newest version of its classic tale “The Little Mermaid” is a groundbreaking moment for Black representation in media that deserves proper celebration. On September 9 of this year, Walt Dis ney Pictures premiered the official teaser trailer for its upcoming live action rendition of “The Little Mermaid,” set to hit the aters on May 26, 2023. The short preview into the film reveals African American actress Halle Bailey por traying the beloved Disney princess, Ariel, as she sings a piece of “Part of Your World.”

Although Disney announced this casting de cision back in 2019, this trailer is the first time fans are actually given a visual of Bailey in the role, rath er than just imagining the racial change. Seeing the new mermaid who, in her original animated form, is white with vibrant red col ored hair, being portrayed by a Black actress has reig nited some of the backlash that started back in 2019. Some fans of the original film are criticizing Disney and the film’s director, Rob Marshall, for not staying true to the original fairy tale written by Hans Chris

tian Anderson. Some haters cite nostalgia and respect for origin as their reasons for opposition, but it seems that these explanations are only a cover-up for racism.

Despite these nar row-minded objections, there is an overwhelming amount of support ex pressed on social media from Black creators em phasizing the importance of representation. Many moms have taken to Tik Tok to show videos of their young Black daughters re acting to the trailer. Filled with excitement and sur prise, these young girls are finally seeing themselves represented in this kind of role.

This is not a neg ligible event. It is a valu able moment that is a huge milestone for the progres sion toward more Black representation. Little girls deserve to see themselves

reflected in these kinds of movies; they deserve to be lieve that they are like the princesses on the screen.

Even in 2022, Black representation in the media is not where it

should be, for it is still a pleasant surprise for Black individuals when they see these depictions. However, this decision by Disney is a step in the right direction.

ABOUT THE CATALYST

The Catalyst is a stu dent-run newspaper that is published seven times a year in print and 24/7 online at www.TheNDB Catalyst.com for the Notre Dame High School com munity.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Catalyst accepts unso licited letters from students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as press releases from on and off-campus organi zations, but cannot guaran tee publication.

Social media platforms will never truly “BeReal”

Molly Phan Editor in Chief @TheNDBCatalyst

“Time to BeRe al! 2 min left to capture a BeReal and see what your friends are up to!”

At a different time each day, around 10 mil lion social media users re ceive this notification. The rise of the newest social media platform, BeReal, has caught the attention of people of all generations, as its mission is to combat the tendency of social media users to only post the high lights of their lives.

The application advertises itself as, “a new and unique way to discov er who your friends really are in their daily life,” but

has BeReal really made a groundbreaking impact on the world of social media?

When the notifica tion goes off, the app gives users two minutes to take a photo of exactly what they are doing. If they miss the notification, they still have the chance to post their daily photo, but it will be announced as “late” to all of their friends on the app. A user will not be able to see their friends’ posts until they post their own photo.

However, people often ignore the expecta tion to post their BeReal on time, and instead, wait until they are doing something

exciting or look their best to snap their photo. There fore, BeReal is serving the same purpose as any other social media app such as Snapchat or Instagram; it is just another platform for people to advertise their social lives, accomplish ments, connections and looks.

BeReal may pride itself on sparking a change within the world of social media, but this is not the first time people have tried to make social media more authentic. For years, users have attempted to make posts more realistic by en couraging “casual posting” movements. Casual post ing, though, quickly turned into influencers posting themselves staged perfectly in an attempt to convince viewers that they look ef fortless while lying in bed.

For the last two decades, platforms like Facebook, Instagram,

Snapchat and so many more have allowed people to brag and showcase their best selves. Despite efforts to break the stigma that sur rounds it, social media will never be completely realis

tic.

Although BeReal has become popular, it has not been used differently than the platforms that al ready exist.

It reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The views expressed in the Opinion section do not reflect the views of The Catalyst, NDB, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, or the Archdiocese of San Francisco, but are solely the views of the writer. Un signed editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst.

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Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002

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PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY STUDIOS Halle Bailey stars as Ariel.

SCREENSHOT FROM BEREAL APP

“BeReal” captures both the user and their surroundings at the same time to be authentic.

NDB promotes Dig Pink for

Q&A: Tammy Byrne, ‘17, Dig Pink Club founder

Sharing her mother’s story

The Catalyst (TC): How did your mother impact your life, especially your time at NDB?

Tammy Byrne (TB): My mom [Carol Byrne] got cancer the year I was born, so I only ever knew her as being sick. I always knew there was a chance she was going to pass away. So, it was like, “Live every moment to the fullest...”

She still worked the entire time that she was sick. She wasn’t one of those people that was like, “I’m just gonna stay at home and spend my time just laying around feeling sorry for myself.” She worked high up in Wells Fargo in San Francisco, so she had really pushed herself the entire time, while feeling horrible every single day. But then, she’d come home and just have a huge smile on her face and would be so happy to be home with us.

Every chance she got, it was making memories for me, just having a good time all the time. Not trying to make anything sad, obviously. Even though she was so sick, she was always just beaming with light. She really just taught me a lot even though I only had nine years with her. I basically modeled my life off of her and then, at Notre Dame, I just always played volleyball for her and always tried my best for her.

Bringing Dig Pink to NDB

TC: What inspired you to start NDB’s Dig Pink Club?

TB: I knew we always had some kind of breast cancer game before I came to Notre Dame. And, I always loved going to those and thought it was super fun. But, when I got to the school, I realized there wasn’t really a club. Even the games weren’t that big of a deal.

So, once I saw there was that opening or that need for it, I tried to jump on it freshman year. But, I was so overwhelmed being a fresh man that I didn’t quite get to it. So, sophomore year, I finally applied to start the club, got accepted and then had over 100 girls from the school join. It was one of the biggest clubs at the time, and everyone just loved helping out. Especially [at] the games, obviously.

Since October was during the volleyball season, that was huge... Also, volleyball meant so much to me, so it was really great. My thought was that there was already a game for it, so why not make it as big as possible? It progressed so much that, by [my] senior year, we had [a] whole school dance right after the volleyball game, which I’d never seen done before. So, it was super fun.

Leaving a legacy at NDB

TB: I think the legacy is what I’m most proud of because I was actually able to leave an impact. I did a lot of other things right. I helped my volleyball team win a state championship, I had good grades and I was on ASB. I did all these other things, but Dig Pink is the thing that people really remember me for.

And, the fact that it’s still going, even if my name is not tied to it. The fact that it’s still such a big deal is such an accomplishment. Five years...after I [already] graduated, it’s just so heartwarming. Every time I watch the videos on my phone, I’m sitting there and trying to watch everyone’s stories, even though I’m down here in San Diego.

Just being able to see girls... enjoy it like I did and care about it like I did, is really big. Especially right after I graduated, the girls that picked it up [were] on the volleyball team and really took it under their wing by texting me, asking me questions and sending me photos... It was just so sweet to have them think of me and want to carry it on.

TC: What are you most proud of when looking back at the legacy that you created at NDB?

Interview by Ashley Turner, Staff Writer, Photos courtesy of Tammy Byrne

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dig Pink Club is on a mission for awareness and fundraising

by Mia Muzzi Managing Editor

Originally founded at NDB by Tammy Byrne, ‘17, the Dig Pink Club is a part of the Side-Out Foundation’s Ambassador Program. The club puts together the Dig Pink volleyball game and its mission is to bring awareness about breast cancer to the NDB community. It is now run by Co-Presidents Abigail Earnshaw and Francesca Arbelaez with their advisor, Athletic Coordinator Kate Mahoney.

This year, the Dig Pink Club organized several fundraisers to help raise money for the foundation Boarding for Breast Cancer. Boarding for Breast Cancer is a non-profit organization based out of Gardena, California that helps educate about breast cancer and support those who have been affected by it.

“My main goal with Dig Pink is for everyone to be aware of breast cancer because anyone can be diag nosed,” Arbelaez stated. “It can surprise you and be scary, so I just wanted to continue talking about it and continue supporting and helping in any way possible.”

Dig Pink Club members signed up for various tasks like making posters for the volleyball game or making treats for the bake sale. Dig Pink t-shirts and bracelets were also sold throughout the month of October in support of the volleyball game. In total, the club raised $2,672 in profit to be donated in support of breast cancer awareness and research.

“I hope people really understand the meaning behind Dig Pink, and I hope that they had a positive experience from the event and they want to come back to support and donate,” said Arbelaez. “I want them to realize where their money is going and that it is supporting so many people.”

The Dig Pink Club continues their mission every October, bringing awareness and educating men and women about breast cancer. Dig Pink Club is an important asset to the event and the hard work of the club members does not go unnoticed.

NDB parent Tracy Downing shares at Dig Pink event

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

Thursday, October 6 was NDB’s eighth annual Dig Pink volleyball game, an event which fundraises and brings awareness to breast cancer. This year’s event featured speaker Tracy Downing.

Downing, an NDB mom and breast cancer survivor, spoke about the role breast cancer has played in her life and offered advice to the com munity before the varsity team began their game.

Downing shared that she grew up in a time where conversations about cancer looked very different. Breast cancer was not nearly as acknowl edged as it is today and support was hard to find. She felt the effects of this when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and found that she had nobody to turn to outside of her family. However, she happily reports that her mom is now a three-time cancer survivor and recently celebrated her 75th birthday.

As Downing got older, she was less frequent about self-breast ex aminations, which she explained are a crucial step in breast cancer awareness. At 29, she was surprised to find a lump in her own breast. When she went to the doctor, she was turned away with the recom mendation of a hot compress and antibiotics.

“A few weeks later, I returned and asked for the lump to be removed,” said Downing. “This request likely saved my life.”

Downing’s experience was unfortunately a common occurrence for women at that time. She realized that there was a belief in the medi cal world that young and healthy women were less likely to develop breast cancer, but in reality, anyone can be diagnosed. People with similar experiences to Downing have realized that there is a need for breast cancer awareness and the creation of organizations and events like Dig Pink. Through her speech, Downing wanted to show the distinction between breast cancer awareness today and what it used to be when she was younger.

Downing ended her speech by encouraging the NDB community to be vigilant about taking care of themselves and each other. As an allgirls school, it is important that NDB continues to lead change in the world of breast cancer awareness.

PHOTO

GRAPHIC BY GIANNA SHAUGHNESSY

Best scary movies to stream during October

by Ashley Turner Staff Writer

Scary movies are always a popular choice, but they are most often watched during Halloween season. The “Scream” se ries, “Happy Death Day,” “Us” and many others are must-watches during this spooky season.

The “Scream” se ries consists of five movies. The franchise is a go-to for many teenagers due to the incorporated high school setting. The first of the se ries follows a girl whose mother had just been mur dered the previous year. She is part of a very ste reotypical group of high school friends with their share of dating, drama and parties.

Suspicions rise, leading many to believe the incidents are connected to the same person. Reports and encounters were made claiming to see a person with a mask. The grand re veal of the murderer led to surprise from many view ers with the results being completely unexpected.

The story contin ues throughout the follow ing movies with the most recent just released this

past year. The “Scream” se ries are the perfect movies to watch when looking for a scary film.

Another movie, “Happy Death Day” is a perfect balance between horror and comedy, with enough jump scares to keep your adrenaline up and characters that will keep you laughing. The general plot of the movie follows protagonist Tree Gelbman, a college student reliving the day she was murdered.

Whenever looking for entertainment that will not leave you with night mares, comedic horror movies are the way to go. The audience is brought to laughter when the protago nist once again fails to sur vive the murder in “Happy Death Day.”

In the film “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” protagonist Stella and her friends spend their Hal loween night in a haunted house. The house is mys teriously haunted by Sarah Bellows, a woman whose family kept her there in captivity.

While at the house, Stella finds a book of scary stories, and takes it home to read. Trouble starts when Stella flips to a blank

page, quickly being filled out in red script, soon find ing out it is a story about a kid in her class. Stella and her friends try to stop the curse of the stories before it ends all of their lives cre ating a thrilling plot and a movie sure to keep the au dience on the edge of their seats.

“Us” is a mov ie that evokes chills from the creepy occurrences that happen to the Wilson family. The setting of the movie takes place in San ta Cruz and even featured

scenes filmed at the Beach Boardwalk, adding to its popularity especially in the Bay Area. The eeriness of watching a horror movie take place in a location so familiar brings a sense of great discomfort for the viewers.

The movie “Us” centers around the world we see everyday, but the film slowly reveals an un derground world filled with doppelgangers. The Wilson family comes face-to-face with their own, initiating many excruciating hours of

fighting till the very death.

“Sleepy Hollow” balances a combination of romance, horror and fan tasy. The film is based on the classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. A number of beheadings in the small town results in the summoning of New York City detective Ichabod Crane. He grows close to the daughter of the home he is boarding at, Katrina Van Tassel, but soon there after, the fourth beheading occurs.

The town discov ers the murderer to be the headless horseman. Rather than being a completely gory movie, “Sleepy Hol low” finds a way to carry in other genres to increase interest as well.

Watching scary movies is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween. A scary movie does much more than frighten the au dience, making it a fun ex perience for all.

Dogs get festive by dressing up in Halloween costumes

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

As Halloween grows closer, it is important to find the perfect costume. However this does not have to only be a human holiday, it can include dogs, cats, birds or lizards as well. For many pet owners, finding a cute Halloween costume for their furry friend might be almost as enjoyable as finding one for themselves.

Interestingly, these costumes date back thousands of years to an cient Egypt where kings would dress their pets in silks, jewels and velvet to promote status and wealth. Similarly, throughout his tory, samurais and soldiers would put armor and hel mets on their dogs to pro tect them in battle.

People now have very different motivations for dressing up their pets. Many believe that their an imals look cute and like the feeling of festivity an out fit generates. Some people do it so their pet can match their own costumes and is not left out of the festivi ties. Others do it to garner likes on social media.

If you want to dress up your pet, be sure to pick the right kind of clothing and look for signs;

if your pet is uncomfortable in the costume, they will show it. However, there is no reason to prevent your pet from wearing a costume as long as they are content and calm.

Stores like Bow Wow Meow, a small pet store in San Carlos, sell many different kinds of Halloween-themed outfits and accessories. These in clude items such as pump kin hats, ladybug wings and more. The costumes are not guaranteed to stay on for a long time but will make for a good photo opportunity.

There are ad

ditional ways to include your animal in festivities besides a costume. You may decorate their leash or collar with accessories like bandanas or bows. Also, if you live in a prominent pet neighborhood, you may want to put out dog treats as well as candy for kids.

This spooky sea son offers many possibil ities for your pets to wear a festive outfit and is guar anteed to make everyone smile, whether you’re go ing trick-or-treating in your neighborhood or attend ing a party at a neighbor’s house that allows pets.

Get “unhinged” at the Winchester Mystery House

by Editorial Staff

For Halloween, something really scary awaits down highway 280 at the Winchester Mystery House. Now, touring the mansion might be some thing one subjects their out-of-town family and friends to while they wait for them in the garden and do a selfie photoshoot. But, visiting the estate for its “Unhinged: Nightshade’s Curse” Halloween attrac tion is something that ev erybody must do.

Scheduled for only thirteen nights – Get it? – throughout September and October, the event fea tures a haunted house tour as well as carnival games and sideshows along with refreshments for sale.

The pièce de ré sistance is the tour of the mansion itself. Without a guide. In the dark. Be pre pared to walk up and down hallways and staircases and through rooms and closets, some of them filled with ghosts, creatures and oth er scary things that make those noises that you send your parents to check on in the middle of the night.

This year, the tour includes several routes. Note that it does cost more for the VIP ticket which al

lows one to take a second tour of the mansion and go down the other route.

Is it scary? Yes. How scary is it? You might want to pack an extra pair of underwear to change into after your visit. Or maybe go shopping for new bottoms across the street at Santana Row or Valley Fair.

The house is al ready creepy during the day. It’s even creepier at night. Go with the com

pany of friends. Enjoy, but don’t get separated. Or else there may be an extra seat or two on your car ride home. And, when one does get home, it may be a good thing to burn some sage and cleanse themselves just in case a ghost followed them home.

General admis sion is $69.99 and VIP is $79.99. On value nights, it is $64.99 and $84.99, re spectively. Parking is com plimentary.

PHOTOS COMPILED BY MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

Scary movies are frequently watched throughout the month of October in the spirit of Halloween.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST

A furry customer of Bow Wow Meow dresses up as a princess for Halloween.

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

Scary things await visitors at the Winchester Mystery House’s Hallowen attraction.

How to choose a perfect pumpkin

by Annabelle Huber Contributing Writer

Autumn is upon us, as the leaves start to change and pumpkins start being placed on doorsteps as well as around the halls.

Arguably, pump kins are very versatile fruits, ranging from dec orations to food. Many students find both carving and baking with pumpkins a fun way to celebrate the fall season. This year, stu dents wonder how they can choose the perfect pump kin, and what they can make with them?

Finding the per fect pumpkin includes three important tips. Firstly, the pumpkin should be firm to the touch, those with soft spots or indents may al ready be rotting. Another detail to check for is the maturity of the pumpkin. If a pumpkin is easily punc tured by a fingernail, it may indicate that the pumpkin was picked prematurely, and will soon decay.

It is also important to take a look at the stem of the pumpkin. The ideal pumpkin will have a bright green stem that has been freshly cut. Pumpkins with dried-out stems often mean that they were harvested

long ago. Once you have picked out the perfect pumpkin, it is important to take care of it, so it can live a long life. A key point is to not carry the pumpkin by the stem. Although it seems like a convenient handle, if the stem breaks off, it may begin to rot. Keeping this in mind, carrying the pumpkin from the bottom is the best way to transport it. Lastly, pumpkins live longest in cooler conditions such as somewhere inside that does not get much sunlight. What desserts can be baked from a pumpkin?

Most pumpkin desserts use pumpkin puree, which can be both store-bought or homemade.

A Thanksgiving favorite, pumpkin pie, can be easily made with storebought pumpkin puree and pie crust, or from scratch with homemade ingredi ents.

Another des sert that is often plastered across storefronts is pump kin spice muffins. These fall treats are simple to make and can be easily per sonalized with oatmeal and other add-ons mixed within the batter.

A non-traditional pumpkin dessert is pump kin cinnamon rolls that can be topped with rich cream cheese frosting or a glaze of choice. This treat can be a new favorite for those with a sweet tooth, the gooey spiced confection is perfect when enjoyed warm.

The fall season of fers a wide variety of festiv ities and ways to celebrate. Pumpkins are a notable part of fall celebrations and present us with wonderful different ways to enjoy the orange gourd.

What’s trending in fall fashion?

by Finley Wilke-Hiland Contributing Writer

Fall is right around the corner, flared leggings and over sized hoodies are making their approach on NDB’s free dress Friday. As students conquer the cold in their skirts and polos, each day they are finding new and intriguing ways to stay warm and stylish. Fashion items are constant ly changing, but here are some of the most popular apparel today:

Flared Leggings, Aerie

Warm and comfy, flared leggings are this fall’s go-to attire. Aerie, American Eagles’ active brand, has one of the most soft and comfortable leggings with flared bootcut bottoms. Worn with any type of top, these leggings are perfect for a cold free-dress Friday.

Align Tank, Lululemon

The align tank top, from a known athletic brand Lulu lemon, has been one of many popular crop tops worn this past summer. This athletic tank top found in many differ ent colors has been a huge hit and is continuing to shine into fall. With a soft buttery feeling, this tank is meant to be comfortable for day to day use, exercise and more. It can be worn under flannels, hoodies or any jacket in the approaching cold weather.

Sweatpants, Aviator Nation

Teens are always looking for a comfy and cute way to dress. The sweatpants from Aviator Nation established with different colors and styles, are perfect for this fall. With different designs, stripes and patterns, these sweat pants are always new, exciting and stylish.

Blazers, Nike

Halloween Time at the happiest place on Earth is worth the trip... and the lines

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

Disneyland is transformed into a different place when October 1 hits the calendar. The park is uniquely decorated with or ange, adorned with pump kins and displays all things Halloween. From the sweet treats to the fireworks, Disneyland Park is a great place to spend time during Halloween.

Each season, fall trips to Disney get more and more popular. When compared to the absurd ly busy Christmas season, many opt for the Hallow een season instead. Over the course of the full month of October, Halloween is in full swing, only making crowds grow larger.

Lines at Disney land are always long. With everyone wanting to expe rience the park at this time of year, crowds and lines only grow bigger, making it nearly impossible to make it on more than one ride an hour. It is especially im portant to be aware of the Oogie Boogie Bash, which is a large Halloween party that takes place in Disne yland’s California Adven ture Park and is restricted to those with party tickets only.

The strong Ana heim sun beating down during the days and the nights staying at a comfort able 60 degrees, makes for an extremely comfortable temperature pattern. The nice weather appeals to guests when planning trips, making Disneyland an ide al location as the weather begins to get colder in other areas. It is clear that when the weather fluctuates, so do the crowds.

When it comes to entertainment, the list goes on and on. Including the Oogie Boogie Bash, many of the fan-favorite rides are transformed into the Hal loween spirit. The Haunt ed Mansion, Guardians of the Galaxy and a handful

of smaller rides, are all adorned with fall colors of orange and yellow, pump kins, skeletons and more. Many fans like the original rides as they are, yet some love the touch of spooki ness.

Junior Gianna Shaughnessy visited Disn eyland over the first week end of October.

“The modified rides all changed to fit the Halloween theme added a really fun touch to the park,” Shaughnessy said. “I especially loved how the Haunted Mansion was dec orated at this time of year.”

Halloween fire work shows are held on weekend nights, where special Halloween Screams

projection shows are also offered. The parades in the fall are filled with the same Halloween decor, as char acters dress up in costumes and help spread the Hal loween spirit.

Disneyland’s ar ray of sweet treats are mod ified to fit the Halloween theme that takes over the park. Many fan-favorite treats, including Mickey beignets, funnel cakes and churros, are given a pump kin-spice twist for fall.

“My favorite touch about visiting Dis neyland in October is the pumpkin flavored treats. I was excited to try the pumpkin-spice Mickey beignets...,” Shaughnessy added.

Every good outfit needs good shoes. The Nike Blazers are a great way to tie together your outfit, from the fun colors, styles, and comfort they bring. They can be paired with leggings, sweatpants, jeans or truly anything. With two different styles, high and low tops, Nike Blazers can fit anyone’s style and take them into Fall.

Corduroy Pants, Urban Outfitters

One piece of clothing popping up lately are corduroy pants. Corduroy is a unique “soft-felt” pattern from the 1970’s found in multiple different colors. High and low rise, wide and skinny legged, this attire has launched in tons of different styles. Chillier weather is approaching quickly, with this soft comfortable material, corduroy pants are the perfect fit for this season.

These are just a few of many popular pieces of clothing and styles that are rising into this fall. As the cold and cozy weather approaches, more pants, sweatshirts and other warmer attire are coming into action. NDB’s free dress Fridays are getting more fashionable as students acces sorize and add to their outfits depending on the changing weather. This fall it can be expected that there is going to be a lot of unique styling, making each uniform original.

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

Visiting fans are welcomed to Disney’s California Adventure Park with an array of spooky decorations.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST

Aviator Nation sweatpants are a fall favorite.

ANNABELLE HUBER / THE CATALYST

Pumpkins are sold in Half Moon Bay to start the fall season right.

Student-athletes face the challenge of balancing academics and athletics

by Mia Muzzi Managing Editor

Many students choose to partake in NDB’s athletics program in order to pursue their love for a sport. NDB offers a wide range of sports teams to be a part of and because of this, the majority of students participate. Stu dent-athletes at NDB learn more than just the skills needed on the court, they also learn many valuable life lessons and experienc es.

One lesson that student-athletes quickly learn is the importance of time management. It comes as no surprise that they face challenges when trying to balance their schoolwork on top of the long hours that their sports demand.

Junior Karly Bor din plays on NDB’s Varsity

Volleyball team, spending around 10 to 12 collective hours per week with the rest of her teammates in practice or in games, along with a rigorous schedule of multiple Honors and AP classes.

“Something I love about playing volleyball is that it takes my mind off of everything else,” said Bor din. “With that being said, sometimes it also gets in the way and takes up the time that I need for doing other things, which can add stress.”

Being committed to a sport and prioritizing it along with school, can have a variety of effects on students’ mental health. It becomes difficult when balancing the two and student-athletes are often forced to sacrifice sleep or social activities in order to stay on top of their respon

sibilities.

Bella Svanberg, a sophomore at NDB, is a member of the Varsity Ten nis team. She dedicates her afternoons and weekends to playing tennis, along with her club soccer team.

“For me, the most difficult part about balanc ing sports and schoolwork is just the timing of it. There’s a lot of time that I have to dedicate to both and having them both everyday is definitely a lot of pressure on me,” reflects Svanberg. “Not only is there a physi cal impact but there’s also a mental impact because I’m exhausted not only physi cally but also mentally.”

The added stress of being successful at a sport, in addition to main taining academic achieve ment, can be overwhelming to students as they continue through their seasons. Due

to limited time for home work, taking advantage of opportunities such as col laboration and study hall becomes imperative for student-athletes.

Student-athletes learn to prioritize their schoolwork and develop time management skills in order to continue to ad vance in both their academ

ics and their sport.

“Something I’ve done to help myself manage my time has been setting times for myself, especial ly when it comes to sleep,” said Svanberg. “Also not going on my phone has been really helpful to time management because it was getting really distracting.”

Although playing

a sport can cause added pressure to students, there are a multitude of benefits in learning how to be effi cient with time so early on.

Student-athletes at NDB are able to improve their academics and sports per formance while also estab lishing important life skills that will be useful in their futures.

Mercy B and NDB Spirit Squads cheer at Serra HS homecoming game

Q&A with Cross Country Coach Tom McGlynn

The NDB community is excited to intro duce NDB’s new cross country coach, Tom McGlynn. McGlynn is a threetime Olympic Trials qualifier and ran competitively at Penn State during college. After college, McGlynn founded an app called “Runcoach,” which gives runners person alized training based on their goals. The Cata lyst interviewed Mc Glynn to discover more about his background in running and his goals for NDB’s cross country pro gram.

The Catalyst (TC): How long have you been run ning?

Tom McGlynn (TM): I started running when I was 18, when I was a senior in high school, and I’m going to be 50 in a week, so I’ve been running for 32 years.

TC: What events did you run when you were competing and do you still compete?

TM: I ran the mile, the 5,000, the 10,000 and the marathon. The marathon was probably my best event, as well as the half marathon. I still compete from time to time with a masters cross country group called West Valley Track Club.

TC: What are your favorite things about run ning?

TM: My number one favorite thing about run ning is probably the way it makes me feel and how it helps me concentrate, sleep, balance and take stress away from my daily life. Num ber two, I actually like the feeling I get when I’m running in addition to afterwards. And then number three is I love the convenience of running, just go right out your door and start running.

TC: When did you start coaching?

TM: I started coaching in 1997, and then I didn’t coach again until 2002, and then I’ve been coaching since 2002.

TC: How did you come to coach at NDB?

TM: Very randomly. I was going to help, and then Coach Kristi unfortunately couldn’t re turn, so that’s how I became the coach.

TC: What are your goals for the cross country program this year and in the future?

TM: My goals are to make it a very positive experience and try to help the girls and the team improve from beginning to the end. Spe cifically I think that this team can qualify for CCS and has a shot at qualifying for States, so those are specific goals. And then for the long term, I think that Notre Dame could become a leading cross country and track and field pro gram for girls in the Bay Area who are serious about academics and athletics. I hope to create a running culture so that we can get even more student-athletes out and learn to run and enjoy it, and hopefully become runners for life.

TC: What is your biggest piece of advice for student-athletes?

TM: My college coach once told me that there’s three things in college: there’s academ ics, athletics and social life. And he told me you can do two of them well. So I like to tell people that you can’t do everything in terms of athletics, academics, social life or extracur riculars, so it’s important to stay balanced and then to focus on what you’re doing at the time. So focus on the present moment. If you’re at cross country practice, it’s good to focus on running, stretching and training, and when you’re studying, it’s good to focus on that so that you are able to balance it all.

The NDB community is excited to have Coach Tom McGlynn as a part of the growing athletic program at NDB.

GRAPHIC BY GIANNA SHAUGHNESSY

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIANCA RIVAS

The Spirit Squad poses for a team photo before kickoff at Freitas Field.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIANCA RIVAS

The Varsity Spirit Squad lines up behind the Padres for the singing of the National Anthem.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIANCA RIVAS

The Mercy B and NDB Spirit Squads take team pictures before the halftime routine.

Volleyball plays in Dig Pink game

From DIG PINK | Page 1

Varsity Volleyball team regained their strength for the fifth and final set of the game. After a tiresome, long game, the Tigers rose above, coming out on top with a score of 15-13.

The crowd filled the court as the team cele brated amongst each other. With smiles on all faces, the NDB fans were thrilled

to be a part of the special victory of the Dig Pink game.

“I was really im pressed by our team’s resil ience. The sets we lost just motivated us more to work together as a team and find our strengths and execute,” shared middle blocker and junior Anna Ansari. “I was also impressed by the crowd. The game was real ly long. Most people stayed

until the end, which was surprising and showed im pressive Tiger spirit.”

After losing to Menlo in the previous sea son, the NDB Tigers were determined to come out on top. Playing for such an amazing cause and taking home the win, the team is going into their last few games with this large victo ry under their belts.

WoPo hosts Mercy B for Fan Fest

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

NDB’s Fan Fest, an annual water polo event, began on Friday, October 7 at the Serra HS pool. This game is a competition be tween NDB and Mercy B’s girls water polo teams for the Tri-School Trident Cup. The Trident Cup has been in NDB’s possession since 2015 and currently sits in the display case outside of the Moore Pavillion. Mer cy B refers to this game as the “Sister Splash” and is a part of their “Pink Week,” a week full of events that support breast cancer

awareness.

The evening be gan with the JV teams play ing at 6, while NDB Boost ers cooked hot dogs and hamburgers for the grow ing crowd. With only one substitute player, the NDB JV team triumphed over Mercy B, 6-5, with their fi nal point coming in the last 60 seconds by sophomore Eve Cross.

With support from the NDB JV cheer team and crowds filled with fans, the varsity team began their game against the Crusaders at 7. For the first time in two weeks, the Tigers had their full team playing, giv

ing them an edge that they had been lacking in their previous league games.

The Serra, Mer cy B and NDB fans in the crowd cheering for both teams brought a sense of Tri-School spirit. The first half ended in a close score with NDB only leading 7-5. By the end of the fourth quarter, the team was able to rise above and finish the game with a final score of 9-6. The high-spirited fans and support from the TriSchool community led the Tigers to another win at this year’s NDB Fan Fest.

Fall sports host annual senior nights to honor longtime athletes

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

At NDB, the se niors are viewed as leaders, especially when referring to athletics. With a majority of the seniors just completing their fourth season, they are represented as role models for the teams and athletes to come. NDB highly val ues celebrating the seniors for their accomplishments and participation in the NDB athletic program.

Before the un fortunate loss to Mercy B, the NDB Varsity Volleyball team celebrated their four senior athletes for their athletic involvement and success in the volleyball program at NDB. Team mates, coaches, students, parents and athletic staff attended the Senior Night on the evening of October 11 to support their last few games on their high school volleyball team.

Only having four seniors on the varsity team, the teammates were able

to organize a special cele bration for the athletes and their families.

Accompanied by their parents, the seniors were announced and intro duced to the crowd. The athletes proceeded down a tunnel, formed by their sup portive teammates. At the end, they were greeted by their coaches and a handmade, personalized post er. Several pictures were taken of the athletes and their families. Before step ping off to the side, each senior’s favorite memory from playing on the NDB volleyball team was shared with the crowd.

Similar to volley ball, the water polo seniors were also highlighted in their game on October 12. Their underclassmen team mates set up balloons, post ers and streamers around the Serra HS pool deck to celebrate this special game for the upperclassmen.

After the varsity team warmed up, the se nior ceremony began with

Athletic Director Christi na Okubo welcoming the crowd. She first congrat ulated the four seniors on the opposing Woodside HS team on a great season as they received flowers from NDB players.

The four NDB seniors lined up togeth er in anticipation of their name and number being announced. One by one, the seniors were led down the side of the pool to col lect their flowers as Okubo shared each of their favor ite memories from the sea son. The celebration fueled the crowd for the thrilling game ahead.

When the last pic ture was taken, the girls jumped back in the pool, ready to play their hearts out for their senior night game. All four seniors started in the game and stayed in for a majority of the quarters. It was such a close match, but Woodside pulled ahead, ending the game with an NDB loss, 7-10.

Varsity golf season ends, breaking last year’s record

by Hannah Nebres Arts & Life Co-Editor

With varsity golf nearing the end of its sea son, the team is looking forward to finishing the year strong. The Tigers have completed all 14 of their matches and hope to push onward for the final stretch.

On October 4, the team hosted Castilleja at their home course, the Golf Club at Moffett Field. The team finished the round with an overall score of 261, while Castilleja ended with a 269, resulting in a close victory for NDB.

The following day, the Tigers geared up for their next match against their sister-school, Mercy B, at Crystal Springs Golf Course. Juniors Savannah Sweet and Dani DeMera shot 38 and 46, respec tively, putting the team at an advantage. However, it was a close loss for NDB, whose final score was 254 and Mercy B’s 247.

While the team has completed all of their league matches, the West Bay Athletic League Championship is what truly marks the end of the sea son. Golf’s league champi onship consists of 18-hole round of golf, which is much more rigorous com pared to the usual 9-hole matches. To qualify, players must have a scoring aver age of 60 and under. Unlike regular matches, there is no maximum score of double par, meaning players can not pick up their ball once a certain score is reached. The tournament is set to be held at Sunnyvale Munic ipal Golf Course with the many other schools in the league.

As the golf season gradually comes to an end, sophomore Alexis Hom re flected on the current sea son and compared it to the previous year.

“It feels like we have so much potential to be so good. And, we’re us ing that potential this year,

and it’s just amazing,” said Hom.

Since the Tigers broke their win record from last year, the team has had a positive outlook on the season and have enjoyed their victories. NDB intro duced Spiritual Life teach er, Douglas Requilman, as the new head coach for var sity golf. The team great ly appreciates him for his constant support, drive and commitment to the team.

“[Requilman] gives us pointers, and he doesn’t sugarcoat things. He gives it to you straight, and then he also tells you what you need to work on,” said Hom. “He’s super pa tient with us, which is real ly nice. And, I think that he just helps us become better players.”

After a successful season, Varsity Golf has regained their strength for their final matches and are striving to make the cham pionships that take place at the end of the month.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MALAINA ALIFANO

Varsity volleyball players jump to block a hit during the Dig Pink game.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE MAHONEY Abbey Earnshaw (left) gets up to pass, hoping to score against Mercy B.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE MAHONEY

Senior varsity water polo players pose for a picture with Coach Mike Marques.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KARIN NEBRES

The varsity golf team celebrates the end of their season at their senior match.

NDB makes the most of their fall break

by Editorial Staff

The NDB commu nity went on fall break from October 13 through 16, the first long break of the 20222023 school year.

Freshmen and se niors got an extra day of rest and relaxation on Oc tober 12, as the sophomores and juniors attended school to take the PSAT. The PSAT/NMSQT exam was offered at NDB on October 12, along with many other high schools across the na tion. Sophomores and ju niors take the exam in the hopes of achieving a score that qualifies them for a Na tional Merit Scholarship.

“Fall break was pretty relaxing besides the PSAT,” said sophomore Ava Baldi. “Although it was not as hard as I had ex pected, it was still challeng ing.”

For these students, the practice test is a trial run for standardized exams in the college admissions process and helps stu dents identify their testing strengths.

The break offi cially started for all stu dents on October 13, and this was a time for many NDB community members to spend with their family and friends. Some students stayed at home while others took these days to travel.

“It was nice to relax and spend time with family in Tahoe, and to take a break from stress and schoolwork,” said Moore.

“Especially after taking the PSAT, I enjoyed hav ing a long break to unwind before heading back into school.”

This break also provided upperclassmen with a great opportunity to visit colleges and take campus tours. As college application season ramps up, seniors must begin to narrow down their college lists and officially decide which schools they will be applying to. Visiting a cam

pus in-person is one of the best opportunities for pro spective college students to decide where they want to further their education and where they can see them selves living for the next four years.

Senior Brooke Anderson spent her time off in Boston, Massachu setts, looking at colleges with her family.

“I used the fall break to go to Boston to look at colleges, mainly to revisit Northeastern to see if I want to [apply] Early Decision or not,” said An derson. “I visited during In tersession, but I needed to confirm that I really liked it, so I know if I want to [apply] ED. I also visited Boston University, which I

really liked as well. I got to explore the city of Boston, which made me want to go to school there more.”

Seniors who stayed at home took this time off to work on college applications. For those who are applying Early Action or Early Decision to any schools, the November 1 deadline is quickly ap proaching.

For all students, the four to five day break provided time to catch up on schoolwork and take much-needed time to relax. Students’ next day off will be November 11 in obser vance of Veteran’s Day, with Thanksgiving Break following just two weeks later.

NDB hosts annual Blessing of the Animals

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

NDB’s annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 4 in the Father Downey Garden, led by the Hallmarks in Action Board.

In celebration of the holy day of St. Francis of Assisi, Blessing of the Animals is an event that honors the relationship be tween humans and their pets. Since St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, students are encouraged to bring their animal compan

ions to be blessed in honor of his compassion for all living things.

Many pet owners look forward to this event every year so they can bring their furry friends to school and receive a bless ing to promote good health for them and their families.

Sr. Carol Miller is an alumna of NDB and a former Human Diversity professor at NDNU. She was asked by the Hall marks in Action Board to attend this event to give out blessings. She read from the Canticle of Creation, a prayer written by St. Fran

cis that conveys the spirit of his love and appreciation for all of God’s creatures and parts of creation.

After this prayer, NDB community members were invited to receive in dividual blessings for their pets from Sr. Miller. While families were waiting their turn, members of the Hall marks in Action Board came around with treats for each of the pets to keep them happy and calm.

Many students and staffulty brought their animals to this event. Ath letic Coordinator Kate Ma honey brought her beloved

dog, Frankie, to be blessed.

Director of Mis sion and Ministry Amy Jo bin always enjoys this cer emony, and this year’s was special as it took place on her birthday.

“I love this day, and it is the perfect way to spend my birthday,” said Jobin. “It really puts a smile on my face.”

With many barks and wagging tails, the short celebration ended and the animals returned home, but hope to return to NDB again next year.

Students react: Drama in the dining hall

On October 7, Head of School Meredith Essalat announced that the Father Downey Garden would be off-limits during lunch because students were treating the space with disrespect. Consequently, the unofficial rule that upperclassmen get priority in the dining hall has been broken, and the indoor spaces have been crowded. Let’s see what students have to say about the drama in the dining hall.

“I feel like it’s really unfair to the upperclassmen because they’ve been waiting for half of their high school years to sit in the dining room. It’s also really annoying and im practical because there’s nowhere for people to sit. When we can’t sit outside, everyone’s crammed in the cafeteria and... it’s just been a big inconvenience for everyone. I feel like the people responsible need to be held account able since their actions are affecting everyone,” said fresh man Page Krensavage.

“It’s definitely way too difficult to manage four classes in a smaller space. I understand that we had to take some measures to make everyone aware of how dirty and disre spectful we were being, but it is really hard to find a seat at lunch with 400 other students who don’t really fit in such a small space. I think if we opened up another option for people to sit, it would make the situation a lot better because the biggest problem is just not having enough room,” said sophomore Hailey Degnan.

“I think that it’s extremely disrespectful... People worked hard on the Father Downey Garden over the summer, so it being trashed is rude. Especially [since] we are in high school, and it felt incredibly immature. It’s unfortunate that those specific people’s actions resulted in such ex treme actions to be taken, as it ruined it for everyone, not just them,” said junior Nicole Santos.

“An important part of going through Notre Dame was eventually getting the privilege to sit in the dining room as an upperclassman. I value having that privilege and tak ing care of the space we are given as seniors,” said senior Gabby Wylie-Chaney.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST

Dogs were a popular animal to get blessed.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST

Senior Kayla Hollister gets her dog blessed.

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

Junior Mia Muzzi used fall break to visit colleges, including UCLA.

Junior Mallory Moore took advantage of the break by traveling to Lake Tahoe with family.