J | The Catalyst | Volume 4, Issue 6 | May 2018 by The Catalyst

OPINION | Page 2 SHOULD THE GRADEBOOK EVER GO DARK?

www.TheCatalystNDB.com

Volume 4, Issue 6

the

ARTS & LIFE | Page 6 TAYLOR SWIFT BRINGS REPUTE TO BAY AREA

SPORTS | Page 7 ATHLETICS TEAMS WRAP SPRING SEASON

CATALYST

@theCatalystNDB

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May 2018

NEWS/FEATURE

Social Sciences teacher Michael McKenna

retires after 40 year teaching career by the Editorial Staff @TheNDBCatalyst

Social Sciences teacher Michael McKenna’s role at NDB began in 1978, teaching five different classes and coaching swimming, softball, and basketball. He taught until the early 90s, when he added even more jobs to his already extensive list, including, but not limited to Dean of Students and Activities Director. After he became a full-time dean, McKenna realized his true passion was teaching, a discovery which he explained in an interview with The Catalyst. He said, “My fourth year, they took me out of the classroom and made me Dean full time, at which point, I realized it wasn’t fun – It’s like having kids and not being able to play with them. So, I went back in the classroom after four years of dean.” Since then, McKenna has been teaching ju-

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Social Sciences teacher Michael McKenna teaches his U.S. History class during the last days of the school year. nior and senior social science classes and has been a Senior Class Coordinator for roughly 25 years. Throughout his time at NDB, McKenna has seen many constants as well as changes within the community.

“The culture is pretty much the same,” he says. “The sisterhood is the same, academics are [a bit] different.” He talked about those he has worked with over the years, saying, “I have my brothers and sis-

ters here, and I have people with whom I work. As in all families, we love one another.” One such faculty member and friend is Barbara Tauskey, someone on whom McKenna immediately made a lasting im-

NEWS

Surf’s up for the Mavericks as they prepare for senior class activities and graduation

pression. Tauskey remembered her first day working at NDB. She says, “On January 7, 2008, I walked through the front door. There was nobody there, and I was supposed to have keys to get into my

New ASB and class council leaders elected by Johana Ligtenberg Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

The year may be nearing a close, but it is in no way slowing down for the Mavericks. In fact, it is just ramping up. The seniors have a full schedule leading up to graduation day. It started with the Senior Day of Reflection on May 4. This was a chance for the seniors to gather together as a class and reflect on their high school experience. Up next are the last NDB performances for seniors in performing arts programs. The choir concert “Singematography” was May 7, and the dance show “Divine Chaos” was May 12. Next, there are AP tests and final projects that seniors must get through

With the recent Associate Student Body and student council elections, students begin to recognize that, while summer is near, the next school year will be here just as quickly. Student council speeches are often a way for candidates to showcase their school spirit and personality to voters. This is crucial in the election of ASB, since candidates are rising juniors and seniors and the underclassmen audience may not be familiar with them. One incoming student council member is junior Kelly Nolte, who used her speech to present her sense of humor and positive attitude as well as love for NDB. She started her speech by saying,

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MAVERICKS, CLASS OF 2018

before celebrating graduation. While stressful, these are the last AP tests the seniors will have to take! May 17th is Academic Awards Night, a night to celebrate the achievements of the NDB community. The next day is

the Senior Holiday, a well deserved break for the busy seniors. Many seniors are planning fun day trips as a way to celebrate their coming graduation. Then, Sunday the 20th is the Mother Daughter Mass and Brunch, an annual opportunity for the

seniors and their mother or special guest to reflect on their relationship and share a fun event. For the seniors, Monday is their last day of high school classes ever! The day ends with the AllSee MAVERICKS | Page 5

See MCKENNA | Page 4

NEWS

by Keira Cruickshank Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

Several Mavericks have a photo shoot before going to prom.

office... And so, I’m standing around, he was the first person that I met. He came down, and he introduced himself, and he took me on a tour of the school and he opened up the office for me

“Think about a time when someone else here at Notre Dame made you laugh or even smile, I can think of so many because that is what being a Notre Dame sister is about.” She then went on to introduce herself, saying, “In case you don’t know me, my name is Kelly -- yes -- the girl who did not get her license until the fourth try. Everyone was rooting me on, through the fails and finally when I passed everyone was there to congratulate me. Being a Notre Dame sister is about supporting each other through good times and bad, and this experience taught me that an important part of being a leader is to never give up and remember you always have someone there to help you.” Nolte is among six See LEADERSHIP | Page 3

MAY 2018 OPINION We’re with you till the The gradebook: Going dark during finals only stresses students and parents out more end of the line... page 2

Gaby Tiu Shreya Chatterjee Editors in Chief @TheNDBCatalyst

Our journey began in the fall of 2014 when we, as scared freshmen, got lost finding our first period classes. Neither of us had formed friendships with our peers just yet, and thus we were thrown into the great unknown, a.k.a. the world of high school. We joined clubs, made new friends, and got through Honors English I together (even when we thought we wouldn’t). The last four years have been a whirlwind of firsts – first failed test, first time driving, first AP class and exam, first prom, first college application – and now here we are, facing a world of “lasts.” We are about to restart this cycle as we embark on this new chapter of college. The lessons we’ve learned, gladly and begrudgingly alike, will always stay with us and will prove especially useful as we enter a new world all over again. As the year comes to a close, there is much to think about – finals, summer plans, big end-of-the-year projects, and so on. We, as seniors, must also think about graduation and everything we will leave behind once we leave NDB. Being Co-Editors in Chief has been a privilege that we will never forget as we enter a new chapter in our lives. Our jobs have taught us time management skills that will help us all throughout the future, and just as importantly, this job has allowed us to meet and work with fantastic, dedicated, aspiring writers and photographers. We must admit, we were hesitant and nervous at the beginning of the school year because this was a job with which neither of us had experience. However, we are more than glad that we embraced our roles. Journalism has been a trying, but rewarding experience, and we first of all want to thank Mr. Rojas for the hours he spent working with us and behind the scenes for the production of “The Catalyst.” Without his help in this new experience, we would have been lost and most likely would never have put out a printed newspaper, so thank you, Mr. Rojas. (Thank you for also entertaining and encouraging our endless conversations about sci-fi and superhero movies; we’ll be sure to email and visit you when the next ones come out.) We would also like to thank the Editorial Staff and other writers that dedicated their time, writing, and photos to the newspaper. Thank you to everyone who sat in on our meetings and came in to help us edit articles. Without all of you, there would be no Journalism Club. And, of course, we must thank you, readers, for helping to keep this newspaper alive. It is because of you that we continue to put out monthly issues, and we hope that your interest continues for future years with new staff when we are gone and a new Editor in Chief has been handed our roles. We also sincerely hope that you enjoy your last few years of high school because, soon, it’ll be you in our position, getting ready for what might be one last goodbye to some of our closest friends and people who have felt like family these past four eventful years. Beyond all the necessary thank you’s, there is something else to be said. We hope that somehow, in some way, “The Catalyst” has encouraged all of you to continue to show interest in the events happening around you, whether that be on a local level or on a global one. To all the NDB Tigers: “The Catalyst” wishes you the best of luck.

Johana Ligtenberg Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

Ever since freshman year, PowerSchool going dark right before finals has been a source of stress for me during finals week. I have always thought that it was pointless to close it; personally, I find it much more stressful to have to wait longer to know what your grade is in a class, and to not know what your grade is as final assignments are being entered. I understand the argument against students bothering teachers for grades moments after they have taken the final. For writing-heavy classes such as History or English, many teachers take longer to give their students quality grading they deserve. But why not in-

stead simply ask students not to email teachers about it? Some teachers even do allow students to come by before the end of the school year or email them for their grade in the days following the final if the exam was given in a format that is quicker to grade (often Math classes or those that use a scantron portion). Not to mention, the grade that students see right before the end of the school year is not always an accurate reflection of what your actual grade is going into the final since teachers often have review assignments due during the last week of school. If students are required to have all their work in by the time Power-

School goes dark, why does the same standard not apply to teachers? Do students not have the right to know what their most accurate grade is in a class before they take the final? Many students will screenshot current grades directly before it closes to get the most recent possible assessment of our grade going into the final. Personally, I then use a final grade calculator to assess what I need to score on each final to get the grade I want in the class. Since I have always had between four and six finals during finals week, it is helpful for me to know what classes I should study particularly hard for and how I should distribute my time and effort spent preparing. However, since PowerSchool goes dark, I do not actually know what my grade will be before I take the final. While several final assignments rarely ever change an entire semester’s average an entire

letter grade, even a drop or boost several percent, will reflect in the necessary final grade. One could argue that there is no point in putting an entire semester’s worth of effort into one test, but that’s a delusional perspective to hold -- These tests do affect our final grades, and they can drop or maintain your grade. Final exams are worth a mighty twenty percent of a student’s final grade in any given class -- The work you put in all semester is worth 80% of your final grade. This is particularly important for students with borderline grades such as those in the B+/A- range since the letter grade is what impacts our overall GPAs. Finals are already one of the most stressful aspects of our high school careers. So, why would the school enforce a policy that only contributes to our stress and anxiety during this time?

drops that stagger around the same letter grade. But, I know not everyone is like I am; some find solace or comfort in having complete and unwavering access to their grades. At its best, you see your grade increase by a fractional percentage, if at all, or you are stuck with seeing it remain unchanged; at its worst, PowerSchool is notoriously known for being prone to technological difficulties and driving us crazy when teachers don’t enter grades on a daily basis. For my benefit and for yours, I recommend you save yourself from checking a website to see whether your effort equivocates to the percent or letter grade you thought it would during a time when your mental stamina is being put through the wringer. Please, don’t let PowerSchool add onto the heap of anxieties you already have. For some, it might bring joy to see the grades

before you entered a week of finals. But if you think about it, most teachers won’t even get to entering your grade until all finals have been completed, so why keep refreshing a page that might not yield fruitful results until it would normally be re-opened? What if your grade goes down? Does that automatically mean you are not successful or didn’t try hard enough? Of course not. What if it goes up? Ask Mr. Loeffler to show you the mathematics that go behind calculating your final semester grade, and you’ll see that even by finishing with a perfect score on a test, it can only bring your grade up so much. In other words, what difference does it make? Don’t let grades define you, and moreover, don’t let one test that was taken in a roughly 70 minute period eclipse hard work of an entire school year.

The gradebook: Going dark during finals gives students one less thing to worry about Michelle Kleytman Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Finals are easily one of the most significant stressors of high school, and second semester ones are no different. Everything you were taught over the course of nine months is reexamined through a thick test, extremely difficult essay, or tedious project. We panic through the month of May, reach the calm before the storm during dead week, climb to our mental capacity zeniths, and take our first long-awaited sigh of relief on May 30th. Throughout the extreme hours of studying, excessive stress, and prolonged worry, I am thankful I don’t have my grades glaring at me, dangling themselves on my bright computer screen as I see

progress alter by percentages. PowerSchool should continue to remain shut down during finals or else I seriously don’t know how much sanity I would have left. During a matter of two weeks, our strengths and capabilities are ultimately put to the test. Study guides upon study guides; several trips to Philz Coffee; Facetimes that go into the wee hours of the morning; the stress of finals truly becomes an aesthetic come the final stretch of our school year. Personally, I am not a fan of PowerSchool. I do not have it saved on my favorites tab, nor do I religiously check it to see insignificant climbs and

theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S FINEST NEWS SOURCE

EDITOR IN CHIEF (PRINT) Gaby Tiu

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Shay Levy

EDITOR IN CHIEF (ONLINE) Shreya Chatterjee

PHOTO EDITOR Samantha Ramos

OPINION EDITOR Michelle Kleytman

ASSISTANT ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Kaitlin McCarthy

STAFF WRITERS Keira Cruikshank Frankie Dakin Parker Daley Johana Ligtenberg Lizzie McGuire Feauini Saulala Isobel Senhaji

SPORTS EDITOR Vanessa Velasco

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Kennedy Nelson

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Bella Lopez

SAMANTHA RAMOS/ THE CATALYST

FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas

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.

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. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst.

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.

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OPINION / NEWS MAY 2018 page 3 Should student leaders have term limits? New rule caps class council officers to only two years in the same position Rachel Liu Contributing Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

This student council election season, a new rule was enacted: All class officers can only hold the same position for two years. Opinions on the matter are numerous, but the rule is meant to keep NDB students’ well being in consideration. Those who are

against the implementation of this new rule believe that those who hold high positions in class councils are the ones who truly know their class. Taking away those leaders can choke up the momentum of a class, especially when the council is used to working alongside

one another. Many wished that the rule would have been better applied to classes beginning in freshman year, and not when the council has just gotten into its groove in sophomore or junior year. Some students argue that “a vote is a vote,” and that “people still have the ability to run against” the sitting officers. When an officer is re-elected, it simply goes to show that the leader had made such a memorable impact on the minds of students that the majority

chose to be represented by that same leader for another year. More blunt opinions on the matter aim toward how “high school is not about giving everyone a fair chance.” Instead, it is supposed to make student succeed when integrated into the (unfair) external society. In the specific case of the junior class, all candidates ran unopposed, taking away the point of giving everyone a fair chance. A large reason students even consider running for student council is due to that boost on college

resumes. College counselors preach consistency, yet the inclusion of the two year maximum term can potentially work against students’ application. Students who support the new decision emphasize that students automatically stick to the status quo -- That it is human nature to dislike change. They believe that “the role of high school is to give students the courage to wander out of their usual comfort zones,” and to “push people to challenge themselves in new ways.” Without the term

limit, the student body could feel “trapped” with leaders who could possibly not be catering the students’ needs (because, whether or not it is noticed by the class, “elections will always be a popularity contest”). The student body would also never have the chance to be exposed to new methods of governing. Ultimately, all opinions on the matter revolve purely around the welfare of NDB’s students, yet differ through the prizing of certain values above others.

New ASB and class council leaders Meet the Titans, Gators, and elected for 2018-2019 school year Knights class presidents

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Alex Gatt (left), Krissy Smoot, Kelly Nolte, Grace Dermenjian, Mahek Pombra, and Kerry Hines (not pictured) are the 2018-2019 ASB officers. From LEADERSHIP | Page 1 girls that were elected for the 2018-2019 ASB, who are rising seniors, including Grace Dermenjian, Alex Gatt, Kerry Hines, Mahek Pombra, and Krissy Smoot. In her speech, Smoot drew on her own experiences participating in athletics at NDB, saying, “As a proud Notre Dame athlete, my coaches have always told me, ‘Krissy, finish this game knowing you left it all on the field’ (or court). I know what it is like to give it all you’ve got. This is exactly the attitude I would use as your ASB Officer… How I would approach ASB, if you elect me to be your ASB Officer? That’s easy to answer... I will give it everything I’ve got and will leave it all on the field for Notre Dame.” Hines used her two minutes in front of the entire student body to explain why she loves NDB, saying, “It is a safe community that doesn’t judge you... there is no need to impress anyone with the things you do... you have the ability to find out who you are and what you are good at. There is a sense

of hope that is weaved throughout the school when you walking down the halls everyday.” For Grace Dermenjian, ASB has been a goal of hers for her entire NDB career. In her speech she mentioned, “Ever since freshman orientation, I have admired ASB and dreamed to be one of the six members. To prepare for the opportunity, I have been on student council since freshman year, working hard to develop leadership skills to train me for ASB.” Mahek Pombra emphasized how she has grown and matured over her time at NDB. She said, “Back when I was a freshman, I was very quiet and not sure about what I was interested in here. The first ever rally I attended really set the tone for me and I realized how well I fit in here. I was mesmerized by how the ASB back then got our whole school so hyped for that rally. I’m sure you have also had the same experience, not just at your first rally, but any rally in which all of us were just bursting with excitement.” Alex Gatt ex-

plained what characteristics would make her a strong leader. She said, “Another strength that will serve me well as an ASB Officer is communication… I’m sure that my friends would agree that I tend to be an outspoken person. I am not afraid to convey my thoughts and ideas. I believe this to be a quality and a needed trait as an ASB leader. I am able to use my voice loudly and clearly, but I also know how to use it appropriately and respectfully. This is important since we all must be inclusive and work together.” On Wednesday, May 9, another round of speeches were delivered and ballots tallied for the individual class councils. In addition to the ASB and class officer roles, there are several other roles available for them to get involved. Students can run for homeroom presidents, who help keep their homeroom informed on school events, and boards, which are made up of students that work on a specialized area of the school’s activities, including religion, student wellness, and other specialties.

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Mia Adao, Annalee Wolfe, and Preyasi Kumar will serve as next year’s class presidents. by Michelle Kleytman Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst Ladies, your 2018-2019 Class Presidents are Mia Adao of the Knights, Class of 2021; Annalee Wolfe of the Gators, Class of 2020; and Preyasi Kumar for the Titans, Class of 2019. When asked about her plans for the soon-to-be senior class, Kumar says, “I want to focus on bring-

ing us together.” She explained, “I know this year was a tough one for the council and for the entire class in general because of junior year stressors, but I know we can all work together to improve communication and organization.” Stepping into her first year in the role, Wolfe says, “I am so excited to be able to represent the junior class next year and have great things planned!” And, continuing

her second year in the role, Adao says, “Having the opportunity to be president of my class for one more year is such an amazing honor, and I’m confident to say that with the help of the new student council board, the upcoming school year will be filled with spirit, hard work, and fun! I hope to help our class grow closer and have another successful year.”

The 2018-2019 class councils Knights, Class of 2021

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MAY 2018

NEWS

McKenna retires after 40 year teaching career From MCKENNA | Page 1 and he told me, ‘Here’s where this is, and here’s where the faculty lunchroom is, and we’ve got water, and we provide coffee.’ He was just – He was my first impression of Notre Dame, which was utterly amazing.” She also spoke about his reputation as a teacher among students. She says, “It’s so interesting because the students avoid him because of dress code, and he’s a hard teacher. He teaches you like you’re in college. But, the first person that students who come back want to see? Mr. McKenna. Because he really prepares them for their college careers. He gets them ready to understand what a lecture is all about, what the expectations are, what good writing consists of, so he leaves a lasting impression on you. By all means.” She added, “I will miss him terribly... He’s always funny. When he leaves in the afternoon, he always comes in and asks me how my day is, and

he always wants to leave me in laughter. He always comes in and always wants to leave the room better, happier, than it was when he left.” When asked what

she would miss most about him, Tauskey had an answer prepared. “Cry?… You can quote me on this: I’m taking his parking place. Next year, I get his parking space.”

Not a single person McKenna has come into contact with has been left without an impact. Choosing to be a teacher is one of the most impactful professions a person can

enter, so it is no wonder he fits the role so well. Through his numerous jobs at this school, his legacy will not be unnoticed. Though one of his defining character traits is

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Junior Samantha Ramos created a David Hockney-style portrait of McKenna as “an interesting and challenging way to look at NDB’s campus icon. Whether you are an alumni, past or present, faculty member, or even a current student, everyone knows Mr. McKenna and recognizes his presence on campus. I really wanted to be able to embody his legacy in a statement.”

his strictness – from taking away phones to giving detentions for being out of uniform – anyone who has taken his class knows what an amazing educator he is. From the classic rock music flowing through the hallway outside of his classroom every morning to the opportunity to wear hoodies with our uniforms -- he implemented this policy as Dean -- he has had a substantial impact on the way our school runs. Multiple faculty members as well as students and alumni were happy to share their experiences in his class and explain his impact on their lives. When asked about the legacy he wishes to leave, McKenna smiled, saying, “[In my students, I hope to have instilled] self confidence, [a] sense of pride in oneself, and the ability to recognize when you do need to improve. Self confidence means you are conscious of your flaws as well as your strengths.” With contributions by Isobel Senhaji, Shreya Chatterjee, and Gaby Tiu.

The NDB community reminisces about McKenna’s legacy...

McKenna, 1979

“I would say Mr. McKenna is like a rock star here. It’s not just his length of service or the amount of girls he taught, but it’s his passion and joy for teaching. It’s his unwavering commitment to his students and a sense of integrity... I think the last couple of years, given our political climate, I’ve just admired Mr. McKenna’s ability to remain hopeful about the state of country, but also demand and insist that his students be critical thinkers. He made sure that none of his girls would just accept everything that they hear. I think his legacy is truly the hundreds – who knows how many – students he has taught and their own ability, instilled into their minds by him, to be those critical thinkers and not accepting face value what they hear.” -- Maryann Osmond, Head of School “They were terrified of him as freshmen. They would find a way to go around his classroom when they were out of dress code. But, by the time they were seniors, they realized that he respected them as individuals and just wanted the best for them.” -- Anne Schaefer-Salinas, Associate Head of School for Academics

McKenna, 1989

McKenna, 1999

McKenna, 2009

“Mr. McKenna and I have some of our best memories outside of work. Believe it or not, us dudes like to hang. But, whether at school or not, some of my best times have been listening to music, especially the Grateful Dead, who McKenna deserves credit for completing my transformation into a full blown Deadhead... Aside from that, he has always been a reliable sidekick and mentor when it came to navigating the challenges of Notre Dame girls.” -- Martin Herrmann, Social Sciences Department Chair “Mr. McKenna’s classes fostered my love of history and social studies and led me to choose a political science major in college. I loved his classes and his ability to make me think more deeply about subjects... When my daughter, Carrie Shea, enrolled at NDB in 2014, I had two wishes for her: that she’d participate in Aquacades and have Mr. McKenna as a teacher. I’m pleased that both of these wishes were granted...” -- Kathleen Carney, Class of 1985 “Mr. McKenna was the most influential teacher I have ever had. He’s honestly one of the nicest and most understanding teachers I have ever had. He genuinely cares and teaches us how to be young women... I would be lying if I said I wasn’t genuinely worried about how I was going to survive without his constant smile, cool music, and hilarious digs at our current presidential administration. He’s essentially a part of the NDB culture at this point.” -- Ariel The, Class of 2018

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE RETELAS

McKenna, 2018

NEWS

Surf’s up for the From MAVERICKS | Page 1 School Picnic. Students can relax, enjoy a snack, and sign each other’s yearbooks. The next day there is no school for anyone, as it is a teacher work day, so students have a whole day to study up before finals. Then, finals season will be upon us. The 28th is Memorial Day, so students get a three day weekend before possibly taking one last final on Tuesday. Tuesday is also Baccalaureate Mass for the seniors and their families. This is the first event where the seniors get to wear their cap and gown. Wednesday, May 30th, is Class Day and the seniors’ last day at NDB, “It’s bittersweet to leave Notre Dame,” says senior Jilly Antunez, adding, “but I know that it’s my time to use the lessons I have learned and apply them to wherever I end up.”

MAY 2018 page 5 Mavericks A day in the life of a Maverick

This is the day when the whole school says goodbye to the seniors and the other classes get to partake in the annual Moving Up ceremony. Freshmen will becomes Sophomores, Sophomores will become Juniors, and the Juniors will become the new Seniors. After Class Day, the seniors will all be headed to graduation, their very last event. Seniors have expressed both excitement and sadness that this day will soon come. Senior Lindsay Berardi says, “Graduation is a day that I have been excited for and dreading, but I’m trying to just soak up these last few days of being a student and Notre Dame.” On May 30th, St. Bart’s Church in San Mateo will be filled with the graduates and their friends and family. As they walk down the aisle, each of the senior’s chosen quote will be read. These quotes reflect the students’ person-

al journeys through high school. The students will also hear speeches given by this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, Karenah Rajasekaran and Roxie Khalili. On being chosen as salutatorian, Roxie says, “It’s an honor to be chosen among my graduating class and I am going to spend the time I have left coming up with a good message to leave the school with.” Indeed, this message, and those expressed on graduation day, will be the last imparted on the seniors during their time at NDB and hopefully we will take them to heart. Our time at NDB has been filled with struggles, but it also has been a time for us to grow and learn together. Hopefully, for years to come, the seniors will be able to look back and smile every time they remember their sisters, the Mavericks.

Just some of the things that have happened to our seniors over the past four years...

Rajasekaran, Khalili named NDB Valedictorian, Salutatorian

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Karenah Rajasekaran (left) and Roxie Khalili will speak at graduation. by Michelle Kleytman Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst On Friday, May 11, Karenah Rajasekaran was named valedictorian and Roxie Khalili was named salutatorian of the Class of 2018. Rajasekaran is thankful for the support she has received throughout her NDB career and that her hard work has paid off. She says, “The past few years required a lot of hard work and overcoming many challenges,

but now looking back, I’m happy to say that it was all worth it. What has helped me the most would be my faith, parents, teachers, and friends, and I couldn’t have done it on my own. The future looks sunny and I’m ready for anything!” Khalili is also excited about her achievement, though she admits that she feels a large amount of pressure at the prospect of giving a speech to the entire NDB community. She says “It’s a great honor to be chosen

out of my class. Definitely a little nerve-wracking trying to write my speech to please faculty, staff, students, and parents, but I want to send a great message to my fellow Mav’s.” Both students attribute their success in academics to the support and high standards that they have experienced from the NDB community during their four years here. Rajasekaran will study at UC Berkeley, while Khalili will study at UC Davis. Both will major in Biology.

The 101 Mavericks of the Class of 2018 will attend 61 colleges in 20 states. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MAVERICKS, CLASS OF 2018

MAY 2018 ARTS & LIFE Music: Taylor Swift brings her “Reputation” and a few giant snakes to the Bay Area on the second stop of her stadium concert tour

page 6

by Johana Ligtenberg and Parker Daley Staff Writers @TheNDBCatalyst During the second weekend of May, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift played two shows at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as the second stop of her Reputation stadium tour. According to Swift’s Instagram, she played for a total of 110,000 fans over the course of two days. The concert kicked off with a sequence of video clips regarding the singer’s life in the spotlight over the last years, from her days as a teen country singer to her recent high-profile feuds with other celebrities. Swift then emerged onstage, challenging her fans with the single question, “Are you ready for it?” Over the next few hours, Swift performed songs from her latest album “Reputation” and several of her older songs, including “Style” and “Wildest Dreams” from her previous album, “1989,” as well as “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” from

her “Red” album and “Love Story” from “Fearless.” However, the artist did not simply add in some throwback songs to her performance. She used these past hits as an integral part of the show, blending them with songs from her newer albums. A high energy combination of “Should’ve Said No” and “Bad Blood” rivaled the beautiful mesh of “Long Live” and “New Year’s Day.” The mix of these songs, along with other mash-ups, reinforced Swift’s theme of “Reputation.” Swift released “Reputation” on November 10, 2017 as her sixth album. She released her first single from the album, “Look What You Made Me Do,” on August 24, 2017, and premiered its music video at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. Many fans believe this song and others on her album are references to her infamous 2016 feud with rapper Kanye West when he interrupted her speech at the 2009 VMA’s and the

JOHANA LIGTENBERG / THE CATALYST

Taylor Swift performs several of her hits from her “Reputation” album. references to her in the lyrics and music video of his song, “Famous.” The controversy resulted in Kanye fans spamming Swift’s Instagram comments with the snake emoji. A prominent symbol of her “Look What You Made Me Do” music video and images from her Reputation tour concerts has been a snake in what fans have interpreted as her “re-

claiming” the snake. At the concert, the snake visual was seen on concert screens as well as large robotic and blow up replicas with Swift moving from one stage to another on a large snake head skull during a performance of “Bad Blood,” one of her hits from the “1989” album that was rumored to be about her feud with Katy Perry. While she played

the role of pop-culture villain convincingly, her concert was still full of Swift’s usual heartfelt speeches regarding relationships. The blend between dark and light in the show was emphasized through the mixing of her songs. The Swift that audiences were used to still shone through, although it was a new and revised version. As she reminded everyone during her perfor-

mance of “Look What You Made Me Do,” the “old Taylor… is dead.” Swift’s reputation in Silicon Valley was only strengthened by the phenomenal stage sets, band, backup dancers, props, costuming, and, of course, her vocal performance that she delivered through Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium. Given the venue’s curfew, this one was definitely worth breaking.

Movies: The Catalyst’s recommendations for the summer There are only eleven friday nights during summer vacation. What movies should you go and see?

Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios

May 25 | Solo: A Star Wars Story | PG-13

June 22 | Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | PG-13

Titan Johana Ligtenberg says, “I’m really excited to see ‘Solo.’ My mom loves ‘Star Wars,’ so I grew up watching the original ones. I already have tickets to see it with her. I wasn’t sure about the casting at first, but I saw the trailer recently, and I think it will be a good movie. Honestly, I haven’t entirely kept up with the timeline for the new Star Wars movies, but the ones that have come out in the last couple years seem like you don’t have to keep up 100%.”

Titan Jordan McGlinchey says, “I want to see ‘Jurassic World, Part 2’ because I first saw the first movie when I was in L.A. and I went to Universal Studios and went on ‘Jurassic World: The Ride.’ And, it was really cool. So, I watched the movie with my dad, and it had good visuals. and I think it’d be cool to see again and see if they improved on that with the new technology. And, I think dinosaurs are cool.”

June 8 | Ocean’s 8 | PG-13

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Maverick Gaby Tiu says, “As with any Marvel movie, I’m super excited to see this film once it comes out. Especially with the hype still going from ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ I’m curious to find out how the two heroes’ stories will connect to those of other Marvel heroes. I’d recommend the movie to any action fan because Paul Rudd plays a very humorous, easy-going character who poses as a refreshing break from the intensity of other action films.”

Knight Sofia Ligtenberg says, “I’m really excited to see ‘Ocean’s 8’ because Rihanna is in it -- I love her so much and she is just the best. ‘Ocean’s 11’ was a really good movie, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they alter it. It’s gonna be interesting to see a movie with so many lead female actresses. There have been a lot of movie reboots lately but the trailer for it looked really good.”

Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

June 15 | Incredibles 2 | PG

Photo credit: Walt Disney.Studios

July 20 | Mama Mia! Here we go again | PG-13 Maverick Shreya Chatterjee says, “‘Mamma Mia’ has always been one of my favorite musicals, and I can remember singing along to the soundtrack when I was a little girl and my parents would play it in the car. The music is the perfect blend of fun and lively, but also sentimental and sweet. I’m very excited to experience the songs and characters again this summer! Also, the title ‘Here we go again’ is simply brilliant.”

Titan Grace Earley says, “I want to see ‘Incredibles 2’ because... I’m interested to see what happens in the new one and what cool things they’re going to pull out since they’re superheroes and stuff. I’m excited to see what the baby’s special power is because, at the end of the first movie, they weren’t sure what he could do -- He was like this crazy shape-shifting kind of baby. I’m just excited what they’re going to do with him.” Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios

July 6 | Ant-Man and the Wasp | PG-13

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Visit TheNDBCatalyst.com and follow @TheNDBCatalyst for more stories.

SPORTS MAY 2018

Lacrosse: Senior Esme Young reflects on the team’s sophomore season and playing the sport by Vanessa Velasco Sports Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Lacrosse player and senior Esme Young and the Catalyst met on the field for a Q and A on the team’s sophomore season. The Catalyst: Can you fill us in on how the season went? Esme Young: The season went better than last in many ways, even though we did not win a game. It is only the second year of lacrosse at NDB though; we must keep that in mind. We do have more skill than last year and, with time, a win will come. Every single day the team is improving. For example, last year, we had barely any subs; this year, we now have a couple. The team has grown and will

grow and get better with every year.

The Varsity Softball team is continuing strong for its Spring 2018 season with an overall record of seventeen wins and six losses. On Wednesday, May 16, NDB played their first Central Coast Section Division II game. As the seventh-seed, they beat the tenth-seed Westmont HS, 6-5. They move on to the quarterfinal game against second-seed Santa Catalina School on Saturday, May 19. The team finished the regular season with a league record of eleven wins and one loss. They won their

EY: I love how lacrosse is a team sport, working as a team. I love how much the team as a whole improves over the season, how we make each other better. I was apart of the first NDB lacrosse team and, compared to last year, we have definitely grown.” TC: How has playing lacrosse for NDB changed you as a person? EY: I am now a more confident person. Junior year was a little rough for me personally because I was still getting over being cut from the basketball team sophomore year. I had many doubts and trouble

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWITTER.COM/NDBATHLETICS

Senior Esme Young (right) poses with the other senior members of the lacrosse team. believing in myself. When I made the lacrosse team, I realized again that I can truly do anything. Sports is all about persevering, and that itself has made me into a stronger person. TC: What will you miss most since this is your final season? EY: I will definitely miss

the team atmosphere and playing with my teammates. My team has become my family both seasons I have played lacrosse. I will miss all of my teammates. I will truly miss everything, whenever I am on the field or the court everything disappears like fear and stress, and I am able to let loose and have fun.

last home game of the season against Pinewood School, 10-0. Just prior to the game, seniors Madi Earnshaw and Bianca Magnani were recognized for their achievement. Magnani says, “Our game against Pinewood was really special because it was [our] senior game, and the girls on our team put a lot of effort into making us posters, buying balloons, and buying us flowers... The entire thing felt surreal because I remember honoring the seniors when I was a freshman, and now that I am a senior, I don’t know where the time has gone!” She recently added, “We are now playing in CCS and focusing on win-

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY NOLTE

Sisters Nicole and Carlee Miller and Kelly and Emma Nolte are members on this year’s softball team. ning that.” The team is quite familiar with what is to come, and the hard work that is needed ahead in order to make it all the way through the championships. Junior Kelly Nolte says, “My team and I are

working hard at practice everyday in preparation for the playoffs. The team’s mindset is that of focus in order to reach the end goal which is the championship. We have to take it one game at a time and play our best ball every game.”

Swimming/Diving: Junior Riley Brownfield sets new school record for 200m freestyle event by Michelle Kleytman Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

During the second weekend of May, several members of the NDB varsity swim team headed down to the George F. Haines International Swim Center in Santa Clara to compete in the Central Coast Section championship after competing at the Western Bay Athletic League finals held at the Sacred Heart Preparatory swimming pool during the prior weekend. One swimmer in particular, junior Riley Brownfield, was congratulated not once, but twice at WBAL finals for breaking her own record as well as the school’s record. She said, “I was really surprised that I was

Track and Field: Tobin is the last senior standing

TC: What do you love about playing lacrosse?

Softball: Season continues through playoffs as team advances to CCS Division II tournament by the Editorial Staff @TheNDBCatalyst

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able to do this since I have only been on a club team for about two years now. In that moment, I was so thankful to my club coach for helping me get there.” She, in fact, did not become extremely dedicated to swimming until her sophomore year. That said, this did not stop her from dominating in the pool. As a freshman, she was moved up to varsity water polo and started as the one of the only freshman on the varsity swim team. As a junior, Brownfield now holds the school’s 200m freestyle event record. She says, “The 200m was 2:00, and I broke it with 1:57.33.” She currently swims with the Otter Swim Club where she practic-

PHOTO COURTESY OF GINA HART PHOTOGRAPHY

Junior Riley Brownfield hopes to break more personal and school records during her swim career. es every day, a factor she well for the school.” greatly contributes to her Prior to the Otters, swimming success. she swam part time with a While she has pas- recreational team that made sion for her sport no matter her realize, in order to imwhere she practices, there prove, she needed to swim are some significant differ- with a competitive team. ences between the two. She Her hopes for next says, “High school swim is season are “to keep getting different because there is faster and break more rethe unified goal of doing cords.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWITTER.COM/NDBATHLETICS

Senior Kelly Tobin is the only senior on this year’s track and field team. by the Editorial Staff @TheNDBCatalyst Kelly Tobin is the only senior on this year’s varsity track team. She has been running for fun since the sixth grade and actually been running for NDB only this year. She says, “I promised myself at the beginning of my senior year to only do things that were beneficial for me. After auditioning for the play and getting an extremely small role, I decided to decline and move to something else. I had always loved soccer and played it at my old school and, after soccer, I still wanted to do something. I had done track in middle school and was interested in doing it, particularly the hurdles. I talked to Mr. Currier, and the rest is history.” Tobin runs the 100 meter hurdles as well as the 300 meter hurdles. She says, “My best time for the 100 hurdles was 18.28 seconds, which won me the 100h for JV girls in WBAL. My fastest time for the 300h was around 56 seconds.” She says hurdles are the hardest event in track because it is the most physically demanding. Something she is nervous about is tripping over a hurdle during a race, which she says has happened to her during practices. She says, “I trip all the time on hurdles. You are not a true hurdler until you have tripped. You honestly just need to get up and keep on going. You learn from your mistakes and realize you don’t want to fall again because it hurts. So, you figure out how not to do that. Hurdles are one of the, if not the most, technically challenging event in track. Your mind is constantly going and you need to focus and getting over the hurdle not matter what.” Her favorite part about track is that it “is a more social sport than any other because you have to wait so long for the meet, so interacting with all the people on the team is pretty much necessary.” She also appreciates the coaches, saying they are very supportive. They know how to push every member of the team to their full potential, and genuinely care for the health of every person on the team. Hurdling coach Adam Currier says, “What’s great about coaching track is that it’s most an individual spot where individuals have to compete against themselves and their own times. This makes it easier to push athletes to their full potential since you can work independently with them to help them realize their full potential.” A day of practice for the track team is a warm up, core exercises, and some dynamics. The team then either does sprints or hurdles, depending on the event. The coaches also make time to do different exercises in order to work on people’s strengths and weaknesses. Tobin says, no matter what, there is always a lot of running. Of her other teammates, she said, “There are three other hurdlers. I get along with all of them, since we are honestly the minority for track, we all stick together. I get along great with everyone else. The freshmen and I are really close since we were both new to the team and didn’t know a lot of people we stuck together.” Knowing this is her first and last season, Tobin is doing her absolute best to make the most of it all. Regarding the challenge of adding the sport to her senior year, she said, “Track fit really well with my classes. It was something that allowed me to get away from academics for awhile and just focus on something else. My grades are better when I am doing other things. I feel better, sleep better, and turn in better work. It can get difficult to balance it, but I try my best to balance everything.” She definitely regrets not doing track earlier but realizes there is no going back, and so is spending every moment to the fullest. With contributions by Shay Levy and Johana Ligtenberg.

MAY 2018 NEWS Forensic Science students analyze mock crime Tiger Studio students scenes and present evidence in mock trials shoot films on location page 8

by Parker Daley Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst Forensic Science is a favorite among the science courses offered at NDB. According to the school’s course catalog, it is “an inquiry-rich integrated science lab course that emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving through the use of real-world forensic science methodologies.” Taught by Dr. Isabelle Haithcox, the class covers topics that include crime scene analysis, fingerprint comparison, handwriting analysis, and more. All of these techniques are used in actual forensics labs. To get handson experience with these skills, students recently participated in a project where they analyzed mock crime scenes that eventually lead to mock trials. Haithcox explained the premise of scenes, saying, “There was the one in the parlor [that] involved a make-believe victim who had come for an interview for a teaching position and was given

something accidentally in his tea, so that he was sedated and then strangled.” She continued, “The one in the Innovation Lab was also a make-believe victim who was coming to propose to his girlfriend who worked here and was bludgeoned to death.” Students were assigned different roles, including the district attorney, judge, or police officer. Criminologists analyzed the scenes, while the detectives questioned suspects to determine who should be arrested, charged, and put on trial. “Once arrests were made, the defendants had a week to prepare and then we had the trials in each class,” says Haithcox. Students had to use evidence, such as fingerprints and handwriting, to prove their case. When asked how the students reacted to this hands-on, project-oriented approach to learning, Haithcox replied, “The students reacted very well, very positively. They enjoyed it quite a bit. Most of our activities have been hands-on. I think it is a

PARKER DALEY / THE CATALYST

Lawyers present evidence to the judge and jury during the class’ mock trial in the Innovation Lab. much better learning expe- is quite a bit of acting talent rience for everyone if there among the faculty and staff are hands-on components. that I wasn’t aware of.” While forensic It certainly makes it more science is certainly a difrealistic.” The project not ficult subject, it is also only brought to life a mock made interesting through crime scene for forensics the incorporation of projstudents, but it involved ects such as this one into many members of the fac- the curriculum. Science has ulty and staff; a number many tangible, real-world of teachers and staff par- applications, and it is motiticipated as perpetrators or vating for students to make witnesses at the two crime these connections in their own learning. scenes. When asked what Haithcox said, “It was really nice just to work she thought of the project with different people and to and what she would do difsee their involvement, and ferently next time, Haiththe students really enjoyed cox said, “It’s our first year doing this, so it will just get that.” She added, “There better and better.”

Departing faculty members Marty Herrmann and Christie Sellers reminisce about their time at NDB by Michelle Kleytman Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Tiger Studios student and sophomore Meghan Olson took a moment from editing her student film to talk with the Catalyst about her experience with filmmaking. The Catalyst: Why does it take so long to make movies? Meghan Olson: In order to get all perspectives -- When two people are talking, you have to get both of their reactions. So, you want to get shots of both of them, so that’s already two shots. And, you need to do retakes, and you want to take as many as possible, so you have the best footage to choose from while you’re editing and then get the best outcome. And, editing takes a really long time because you have to sort all of them, match audio to the video, and put it all together. TC: What is one thing you learned on-set? MO: There was one mess-up on the first day that we started shooting. I was in charge of sound, but I’ve never been in charge of sound before. Nobody told me what to do because we were in a hurry to get everything done. I didn’t turn on the sound. So, there is no audio for that clip for a couple takes. But, because of this mistake, I was able to not do it again in the future. That was a big part of making movies: Making mistakes and then realizing how to make our movie better because of it. TC: Given your experience making your own movie, how do you look at and watch Hollywood movies now? MO: I definitely notice more things on how they choose their shots. I’ll notice if they chose a wide shot versus a close-up, and I would think to myself, I would have done a close-up because it shows more emotion in that shot. I would compare what I would do compared to an actual Hollywood filmmaker.

In addition to Social Sciences teacher Michael McKenna, two other NDB teachers who have instilled their positive influences on the NDB community have made this school year their last: Social Sciences teacher Marty Herrmann and Spanish teacher Christie Sellers. Mr. Herrmann Herrmann, a beloved and well-known teacher amongst students has been at the school for eight years. When asked about life after NDB, he said, “I plan to move to the mountains, get a dog, a new truck, and a large piece of land that I can live on and build things.” He added, “How caring and loving so many of my colleagues have been through the twists and turns of life and work, like Mrs. Tauskey, Mrs. Yao, Mrs. Hutchins, Mrs. Schaefer, and Ms. Osmond.” Herrmann shared a fond memory from his newbie years, recalling, “I remember one time during my first or second year, I was having intense neck pain and spasms, so much

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE RETELAS

Sophomore Meghan Olson and Madison Macha setup a shot in the Moore Pavilion. by the Editorial Staff @TheNDBCatalyst

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Social Science teacher Marty Herrmann (left) and Spanish teacher Christie Sellers (right) will leave NDB at the end of this school year. so that I was laying on the part of the NDB family for the community.” She shared, “NDB ground in my office, and the last three years!” Sell- will always hold a spehalf the office staff came ers said. She plans on mov- cial place in my heart and rushing up to the office to try to comfort and nurse me ing to North Carolina in or- whenever I see a sunflower, der to be with her husband I will think of our school back to health.” while he finishes a graduate prayer. May we always reprogram at Duke Universi- member to turn toward the Profe Sellers ty. sun!” “I loved coming to Mrs. Sellers, or Herrmann and “Profe” as her students call work every day... because I her, has left quite an impact was always inspired by the Sellers have each greatly on the NDB community smiles, passion, and kind- developed their departas well. Becoming a new ness of my students and ments, leaving students and teachers with fond memomother and teaching full colleagues,” she said. She also said, “As ries and a strong basis in the time was tough, but she persevered as she returned an added bonus, I was able humanities. The two will from maternity leave right to teach here during my always have a piece of the in time for last year’s spring niece’s senior year and then NDB community’s heart, finals. I got to share the joy of my and have had a strong, pos “For me, it has pregnancy and the first year itive impact on the students been a true blessing to be a of my daughter’s life with they have taught.

TC: What is something your teacher, Mr. McDonell, taught you about filmmaking? MO: He obviously has made a couple of big production movies. He kept telling us what we were doing versus what would really happen on a real movie set. He also taught us, on a movie set, nobody says, “Please.” It’s just implied. So, if someone yells at you, “Move a light,” it’s not like they’re being mean. Please is an extra word, and it takes more time. The more time you spend talking, the less time you have to film. So, if we do choose to go into film, we’d be prepared for the little things.

Thank you for reading. Choose Journalism as your elective class or extracurricular activity next year.

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