OPINION | Page 2
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Volume 5, Issue 5
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SPORTS | Page 7 FEATURED ATHLETE: AVERY MCGLINCHEY
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
Black History Month: A reflection on the black
experience in America today by Feauini Saulala Staff Writer The month of February is used to celebrate black history and achievements. It’s important to celebrate the strides that were made back then such as those by Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., but it’s equally as important to acknowledge the firsts and breakthroughs that are still happening today. While many may think of history as the past, there is still history being made. In this past year alone, there were many firsts in politics, entertainment, and sports. In politics, this past year has seen many breakthroughs in diversity, with the biggest one being the historical firsts of the 116th Congress. In January, the most diverse Congress the U.S. has ever seen was sworn in. Massachusetts and Connecticut are sending African American women to Congress for the first time in their state history, and fifty-seven Black Americans were sworn in overall. Jahana Haynes, a former public school teacher, was the representative elected to Congress
ARTS & LIFE | Page 6 REVIEW: “THE BACHELOR”
CATALYST
INTERSESSION SHOULD HAPPEN EVERY YEAR
by Connecticut and joined one hundred other freshmen members of Congress in Washington this January. In Texas, seventeen black women are making history after being elected as judges in Harris County, the largest county in Texas that includes Houston. The women ran a “Black Girl Magic” campaign to campaign for more black judges. The elections of these politicians represents the diversity of our country, and though there is still a long ways to go, this is a huge step forward. In entertainment, the film “Black Panther,” a movie that celebrates black culture with an allblack cast was released in early 2018. In the awards season, the film has been nominated for two-hundred and seven awards, including seven Academy Awards. This film made great strides within the entertainment industry. It was a celebration of black culture and excellence, focusing on a fictional country in Africa known as “Wakanda,” which to the world looked like a third world country, but in reality, was the most advanced country in the See EXPERIENCE | Page 5
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February 2019
CSF and NHS host winter formal “Beauty and the Beast” inspires dance theme
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGE RETELAS
Students pose before they dance the night away at winter formal. by Editorial Staff On Friday, February 8, NDB’s winter formal was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Redwood Shores. Its theme was “NDB our guest,” inspired by the fairy tale story “Beauty and the Beast.” Students and their friends and dates were able to dance the night away during the annual dance. The D.J. made sure the dance floor was never empty, playing top music hits and some throwback songs, while taking requests. For those that were hungry and wanted a
quick snack before heading to the dance floor, there were many dinner and dessert options, including sliders, chicken tenders, chocolate-covered strawberries, and more. There was also a photo booth stocked with props where students were able to take pictures. The decorations reflected the formal’s theme with table centerpieces of roses in glass covers and the film “Beauty and the Beast” projected on the wall near the photo booth. Many students go to dances to have a good time and hang out with
friends, choosing to go as a friend group and skip the drama of finding dates. Senior Bella Evans said, “It was very fun, and I loved making new memories with all of my friends.” The CSF and NHS boards and their members along with their advisers, Social Sciences teacher Jonathan Tomczak and Spiritual Life teacher, Dr. Helen Ciernik, collaborated in planning the dance. Tomczak said, “From the reveal to the dance itself, we wanted to go bigger and better than last year. I think we did that
well. We’re sending a survey out to know for sure, but I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback so far.” With a great turnout and positive feedback, the dance was a huge success. Winter Formal’s place as one of the most fun events of the spring semester so far was definitely solidified. Tomczak says, “The CSF and NHS boards have amazing students on them, and they did an outstanding job putting Winter Formal together.” With contributions Daphne Sidoti
by
Chinese Knot club hosts Chinese New Multi-sport athletes prepare for Year celebration: Year of the Pig upcoming spring sports season by Parker Daley News Editor
On Tuesday, February 5, the community celebrated Chinese New Year with traditional activities, decorations, and food, all sponsored by the Chinese Knot Club. Club president Wendy Hu says “[Chinese New Year] is our big event for this club.” It offers students the opportunity to experience a small fraction of a different culture. Hu says, “We decided to decorate the school first. We put all the lanterns in the dining room, and some Chinese words in front of the library door.” They also set up stations both in the Innovation lab
by Amelia Kyle and Kelly Nolte Section Editors
NATALIE BEIER/THE CATALYST
Students make paper lanterns. and the small gym” where ing station; and a paper lanthey led activities and tern-making station. games, such as calligraphy In addition, Epiand ring toss. They also curean prepared a meal that had a fashion station, fea- included traditional Chituring traditional Chinese nese dishes, complete with clothes; a Chinese knot ty- fortune cookies.
There are many student athletes who participate in more than one sport. This is especially clear with the limited amount of people in attendance at spring sports tryouts. The two winter sports at NDB are soccer and basketball, and many girls on one of the two teams also participate in a spring sport, such as softball, swim, beach volleyball, lacrosse, or track. The question is, does the overlap of the sports negatively impact the athletes, the sport, the team, or all of the above? Senior Bella Ev-
PHOTO COURTESY OF TWITTER.COM/NDBATHLETICS
Track athletes prepare for a meet.
ans plays both softball and soccer at NDB, with softball practices starting the day after soccer ends. Evans admits that this presents a challenge, telling the Catalyst, “It’s
actually really hard when sports overlap because I do not get a break, and I fear I am missing out of part of softball.” See ATHLETES | Page 7
OPINION New year’s resolutions Intercession should happen every year page 2
Victoria Bartels Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst
January is a notorious month, full of pressure and transition, as people scramble to start their New Year’s resolutions. From drinking more water to getting a new job or even traveling the world, many people in the community have be inspired to transform their lifestyles in 2019. Though making lists and sharing these ideas with friends is something to look forward to, often our resolutions do not come to reality outside of the brainstorming. Breaking old habits can seem almost impossible. So, the question is, Are we even capable of following through? To give some perspective on this, Serra HS senior Marcus Seto says, “New Year’s resolutions give people an opportunity to slowly reshape themselves.” So, even if new habits are not fully carried out, there is still that sense of refreshment and the initial thought of wanting to resolve things in the New Year. He goes on to explain, “These resolutions allow us to set a goal and not only create the habit of chasing and fulfilling that goal, but also to gain the satisfaction of self improvement.” It is true that setting yourself up for success is quite motivating. And, although humans rarely stray from comfortability, designing a list full of new aspirations can bring excitement into your life. However, we must keep in mind the most prominent reason those few goals get left behind and forgotten about, even if they felt super important when we wrote them down. This is that many of our goals are too generic. The reason specificity is key is because it allows us to find the root of what exactly we are trying to accomplish. Sophomore Anee Guilhot agrees, saying, “Resolutions are good ways to try new things you have had in the back of your thoughts for awhile. The mindset of beginning a new year motivates people to become a new and better person.” The more thought and time we dedicate to the improvement we wish to see in our New Year attributes to how successful we will be. So, when you are reviewing your resolutions it is also important to determine whether you designed them as food for thought or as genuine aspirations. Either way, 2019 is looking fortunate for all those with a desire to grow.
Jean Aquino Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst
Intercession is a four day break given to students every other school year, following Presidents Day weekend. Activities, such as on-campus classes as well as off-campus educational trips, are offered to give them a chance to learn subjects not often taught in the classroom and to take a mental health break from the pressures of school. So, why does NDB host this event only every other school year? Intercession can include activities such as art lessons, cooking, hiking, and other various topics. There are also opportunities to travel through college visits, academic trips, family trips, and immersion trips, some of them around the world. These are all learning opportuni-
ties without the pressure of grades or assignments. For teachers, intercession is also an chance to share their hobbies and passions with students. English teacher Adam Currier says, “I think teachers benefit from intercession, not only for the break that they get from their regular curriculum, but also in being able to connect with students that they do not normally get to work with.” For juniors and seniors, intercession presents the opportunity for college visits, especially deciding which one to apply to or attend. For athletes who play a fall or winter sport, it is also a time to go on the Kairos Retreat and bond with their classmates. However, with
PHOTO COURTESY OF NDB STUDENTS
Students pursue their wanderlust. intercession being on alternating years, only purple and red classes can really consider these possibilities. For many students, intercession is an academic break that helps keep the momentum from the beginning of the semester going to its end. Senior Julia Hebrok says, “You feel the burden of second semester more on the years that you do not have intercession.
It is a nice way to create a break in the spring semester, while keeping students continuously learning.” Intersession allows students to acquire new skills, enjoy time with their friends, and even discover a new hobby. The NDB community benefits from intercession, and long-term school scheduling would be much easier if we included this week into every school year.
The president and the state of this union Johana Ligtenberg Michelle Kleytman Editors @TheNDBCatalyst
February 5th was a big day for the nation, NDB included. As President Trump gave his second State of the Union speech, followed by Stacy Abrams with the Democratic response, all history classes were in the virtual audience, assigned to watch and take notes. Social Sciences and English teacher Rebecca Fisher assigned her AP Government and Politics class a bingo chart and asked her students to tally how many times certain moments occurred or topics were covered. Both speeches heavily touched on the need for unity, but many argue that this was a weak talking point as the govern-
ment only came out of the longest shutdown in U.S. history less than two weeks before the address. Both sides discussed their commitment to uniting America as one nation, rather than two parties and advocated for reforming healthcare and immigration; helping the middle class and veterans; as well as other issues. Essentially, both parties put forward similar fronts in terms of priorities, but as we have seen through the increasing polarized rhetoric in our nation, the extent of gridlock in Congress, and conflict between the executive and legislative branches that just resulted in the longest government shutdown in history, little is actually get-
PHOTO COURTESY OF TWITTER.COM/WHITEHOUSE
Trump addresses Congress. ting done. On both sides of the political aisle, leaders are blaming the opposing party for generating divisiveness, while ignoring the simple reality that you cannot build bridges with pointed fingers. While each party is dedicated to a devoted stance on their values, at the end of the day, both the Republican and Democratic party are showing severe signs of the impact of internal splintering: values that cease to hold any weight.
However, polarization in Washington is a symptom of our divided nation and world, rather than a cause of it. The advent of the internet -- and with it, online news and social media -- has allowed people to isolate themselves within their beliefs and views more so than at any other time in history. And, while States of the Union should be a call to action by the executive branch, it seems to only be fueling the fire of political divisiveness.
theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
EDITOR IN CHIEF Johana Ligenberg
SPORTS EDITOR Kelly Nolte
MANAGING EDITOR Michelle Kleytman
PHOTO EDITOR Natalie Beier
OPINION EDITOR Jean Aquino
STAFF WRITERS Victoria Bartels | Ella Burrin Julia Hebrok | Jaya Kapoor Luisa Laguisma | Rachel Liu Bella Lopez | Kaitlyn Lopez Kendall Peters | Feauini Saulala Daphne Sidoti
NEWS EDITOR Parker Daley ARTS & LIFE EDITORS Delaney Fox Amelia Kyle
FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas
ABOUT THE CATALYST
EDITORIAL POLICY (Continued)
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.
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. It reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The views expressed
CONTACT US Notre Dame High School 1540 Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002 Phone: (650) 595-1913 Email:TheCatalystNDB@gmail.com
NEWS
Case closed: Mock trial team finishes season in court by Michelle Kleytman Managing Editor You might have been wondering why burgundy colored hoodies with some obscure quote on the back have been recently filling the halls of NDB ― and the answer is NDB’s Mock Trial team. For the past three weeks, the San Mateo County High School Mock Trial competition season has been in full swing. 38 NDB students make up the JV and Varsity teams, both of which competed three times over the course of three weeks at the Redwood City courthouse. The case at hand this year was relevant to teen issues, involving a friendship breakup and a catfishing attempt, resulting in a false text-to-tip allegedly sent by the defendant Regan Klein. The text prompted the SWAT team to show up to a scene where there was no apparent threat. Practices began the the first week of September, and the girls have memorized witness statements, prepared lines of questioning, developed characters, and solidified their teams. They are given a realistic feel for the court of law by competing in the very atmosphere it all takes place. Judges and and a jury made up of two scorers for each trial are volunteers, typically lawyers themselves, that give helpful advice to the team members after the trial. Team captain and junior Abiya Baqai says, “I believe that the Mock Trial team has worked extremely hard this sea-
son… Each member has put a great deal of effort into their own performance and into helping others to make the entire group successful and I hope that spirit carries on.” Mock Trial co-moderator and English teacher Adam Currier says, “I think the team has worked very hard and made great strides this year. The growing strength in the JV team is very exciting for years to come. As usual, we show great growth even if it isn’t reflected in the poor scoring choices.” Mock Trial co-moderator and Social Sciences teacher Jonathan Tomczak added, “What we’ve seen over the last few months is an impressive amount of growth among all our team members in critical thinking, analysis, argument, and public speaking.” The Varsity team finished sixth out of eight schools, while the JV team came close to competing at the county championships, ranking second out of the eight teams. While not all girls on the team are hoping to pursue a career in law, the skills developed through friendly competition such as public speaking and teamwork are well worth the hard work that has been put in over the past five months. The schools competing include Aragon HS, Burlingame HS, Carlmont HS, Crystal Springs Uplands School, Eastside College Preparatory School, Hillsdale HS, Menlo School, and Serra HS.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF YEARBOOK
Members of the 2018-2019 Mock Trial team pose for their picture.
PHOTO FILES/THE CATALYST
Junior Adelaide Coulson served as the team’s courtroom artist.
Gators celebrate the Roaring 20s NDB celebrates Catholic Schools Week by Jean Aquino and Kaitlyn Lopez Staff Writers
PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE RETELAS
A few juniors show off their take on the fashion and style of the 1920s. by Delaney Fox Arts and Life Co-Editor The Gatsby Ball is a tradition at NDB that always offers a fun-filled night for the junior class. Students dressed up in flapper dresses, heels, and pearls, and many complete the look with stunning make-up and hair. The ball is part of the junior class’ unit on “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Rather than complete an essay or test, students complete a project to meet the class’ academic needs, which is then presented at the dance. The ball allows students an opportunity to get a more in depth understanding of the culture and history of 1920s America.
This year, the U.S. History course curriculum also aligned with the time period as students were learning about the Progressive Era and the early 20th century while reading the book. Each block was assigned a project to complete as a class in addition to attending the dance. They ranged from music videos to makeup tutorial to choreographed dance of the Charleston to a 1920s fashion show. Students were graded based on their participation at the dance as well as their contributions to their class projects. Junior Alysa Villanueva told the Catalyst, “My favorite part was the food and the dances. The live band was really cool
and made me feel like I was in the 20s. It was a fun night with my class and seeing everyone all dressed up.” Fellow Gator Ashleigh Dean said, “I think that it is a really cool event, and I love dancing. The band is really great, and there is a good selection of food. It’s really aesthetic and I loved it!” The band Stompy Jones was a hit with the juniors not just because of their great music, but also the ways that they interacted with the audience. The Gatsby Ball is a fun tradition that is a great way for the juniors to make memories as a class and to experience 1920s culture.
During the week of January 28 to February 1, the community celebrated Catholic Schools’ Week with daily activities appreciating all of those who support the student body in their growth and learning. On Monday, the freshmen started off the week by writing letters to their parents. This activity was a good way for students to express their love for the people who have loved, cared, and raised them for their whole lives. The thank-you cards were given to parents during morning drop-off. On Tuesday, the sophomores wrote letters to their friends for all of the laughter and memories they have shared with one another. Students always call or text their friends for advice and can talk to them about anything, but writing these letters adds more meaning to the sentiment, as they give an opportunity to truly thank friends. Juniors wrote letters to their teachers thanking them for taking the time out of their day to give students a good education and
PHOTO FILES/THE CATALYST
Students attend school liturgy. help them grow stronger as individuals. A Google form also went out to the whole school, so every student could write compliments and thank-you notes to their teachers. The letters were printed and given to the teachers at a faculty and staff appreciation breakfast. Seniors wrote letters to their support staff, including everyone who has helped them grow over the last four years of high school. With many of them preparing for college and a new chapter in their lives, seniors were able to reflect on and appreciate the friends, parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors who extend their support in times of need.
On Friday, the NDB community celebrated its foundress, Saint Julie Billiart, with a liturgy in her honor in which all of the local sisters of Notre Dame community were additionally thanked. Without St. Julie’s hard work and dedication for teaching young girls about Christianity, NDB would not exist with the profound community it has today. Her acts of service and leadership built an order of sisters that continue her mission to educate by God’s love. Catholic Schools’ Week was a time to appreciate all that makes NDB a unique place that cultivates an encouraging learning environment and a supportive community.
Become a journalist. Choose Journalism for your ‘19-’20 class schedule.
NEWS/FEATURE Q & A: I am Diverse Club brings awareness to diversity on campus page 4
A look at
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Club members hope to help minority students get their voices heard. by Johana Ligtenberg Editor-in-Chief
The I am Diverse club is one of NDB’s social justice clubs on campus. Formed in 2017, I am Diverse aims to educate the community about racial injustice and representation through educational projects and installations. They have also collaborated with other social justice clubs on campus to raise awareness about the intersectionality of injustices in society, and I am Diverse leadership was a key part of planning NDB’s #Enough Walkout last spring to honor the Parkland shooting victims. The Catalyst sat down with I am Diverse’s leaders to discuss the origins and mission of the club. The Catalyst (TC): How did you come up with the idea for the “I am Diverse” club?
TC: How is the club addressing this issue? What has it done to promote diversity around campus?
Luisa Laguisma (LL): It was sophomore year, right after Trump’s election, and we’d notice in class, everyone was so insensitive.
AR: Through education, mainly. That was our mission statement: To bring awareness to the accomplishments of minorities, to celebrate them, to show that they are just as important and innovative. That representation is really important because, although it takes a lot for a person to be the first in something, when people see others doing it, they think that they can do it, too. We’re putting up bulletin boards highlighting different minorities... Posters and installations highlighting their accomplishments.
Feauini Saulala (FS): They were talking about like, “Oh, he’s just the president. How does that affect you? He’s not going to build the wall” and a bunch of stuff. Andrea Rios (AR): In collab, we would go through a notebook and make ideas of what we could do to address it. FS: ...And names. We couldn’t figure out a name for our club for the longest time. LL: My notebooks were from the Pharrell [Williams] collection from Target... and it said, “I am” and then I was like, we should do that. We were the I am Club, and then we developed it into I am Diverse. TC: Did you have any experiences that made you want to start this club? AR: During our rants, we would talk about the little things. They weren’t flat out racist to us, but just the microaggressions that we had faced: Being asked if I was on scholarship just because I am Mexican. And, again, the insensitivity in history classes, like, “What is Trump going to do? He just said these things. Whatever.” It was mainly around the elections when we would do current events. FS: It was mainly about Trump when he would say stuff... We would notice that not many people would care about it. Malia Velasco (MV): Yeah, a lot of people were just like, “It doesn’t really affect me. So, why should I care?” But, it affects a lot of other people. LL: I didn’t know that you guys felt it, too, until we talked about it. I remember, in my class, I was the only minority. So, I felt like, “Oh my gosh, I don’t belong here,” or “Everyone here is better than me because they’re white.” That was mainly a reason why we wanted to start the club: So that other minorities at the school know that they do belong here and that they do have a safe place that they can go.
TC: Has it been hard to address diversity at a school where the student body is primarily white? AR: There’s a lot of pushback. It’s not necessarily that they don’t want to us to celebrate it, but that they just don’t want to have the conversation about it. They would rather ignore it than have that conversation and work through it because it’s easier to ignore something. FS: Even in classes, students wouldn’t even want to have the conversation. I remember, last year, race was a big thing because of the books we were reading in English, so [Social Sciences teacher] Ms. Fisher would push us to talk about it. And, even in our discussions when we talk about it, no one wants to talk about the issues... It’s hard to make people feel comfortable talking about it. TC: What could NDB do better to address diversity? MV: Probably to acknowledge the fact that there is diversity in the school, even if it is only a minority. Just acknowledge that there are kids of color at this school, and sometimes their experiences can be really really different from the other students. FS: That they can be more sensitive. I feel like tokenism is something that they do a lot… There’s a lot of people not wanting to have the uncomfortable conversations. LL: The school thinks that, because we have a diversity club here, that’s it, that’s done, and that’s not how you solve the problem.
Thirty-nine years ago, Black History Month was first celebrated at Kent State University. It was created to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of black Americans to the United States throughout its history. It has evolved into not just a recognition of African American achievements, but also into an educational platform to tell stories about important historical events and figures. While some argue that, as society moves towards equality, it will become less significant, others counter that Black History Month will continue to provide an important outlet to educate communities about stories that would otherwise be forgotten due to the tendency of American History classes to teach about the past through a whitewashed lens.
The meaning of diversity by Ella Burrin Staff Writer At the end of last school year, the NDB faculty and staff met to decide which Hallmark should be the theme for the upcoming school year. They chose Hallmark #5: “We embrace the gift of diversity.” It nicely fits in with February which is Black History Month. Not only is it a time for Americans to reflect on the struggles and wrongs that African Americans faced in the past as well as to celebrate achievements and progress that they have made, but it is also a time to have a conversation about the issue of diversity, especially acceptance in our communities. Diversity is a gift because it gives every walk of life the ability to learn more than they would be able to if they just stayed in their own bubble. America is home to a melting pot of diversity, all supposedly here to chase after the American Dream. However, the dream cannot be achieved if the backlash that people face just for trying is too hard to continue onwards. Considering the country was founded on ideas that were once seen as radical, it’s ironic that, whenever new ideas come along, people try and keep things from changing as time moves forward. If history has taught us anything, it is that trying to keep things the same way will never go the way one thinks it will. So, why is this hallmark so important, especially in today’s climate? Why should we remember this particular one and try to live by it daily? The
answer is simple: By using our voices as strong independent women, we can help prevent further prejudice and discrimination to people of color and try to create a more diverse community within our campus. By powering your actions with love and thoughtfulness, rather than hate and fear, you can begin a positive movement of normalizing change, instead of fearing it. Diversity is a terrific thing to have in all aspects of a community. It changes one’s perspective and allows change to blossom in a three dimensional way, rather than a one dimensional way. However, it is also important to ensure that no one is using diversity as a platform to try and paint a facade that is really an inaccurate description of a population. Be upfront about it: yes, the majority of NDB’s student population is white. But, what can we do to ensure that we create and grow a community of young women who empower each other by reocgnizing the diversity within all of us? How can our community be better? What can I do to ensure that there is more equity in this community? These questions might first be formulated here at NDB, but be sure to keep them as a lifelong thought -- that way one can truly ensure that they are not being a bystander towards prejudice, but that as a community, the young women are maintaining an open mindset to ensure that the gift of diversity is, in fact, being embraced.
FEATURE
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Black History Month at NDB I Am Diverse Club celebrates “Black HERstory Month” by Luisa Laguisma Staff Writer Black History Month is observed nationally throughout the month of February to celebrate the contributions of African Americans in the United States. The I Am Diverse club at NDB celebrates Black History Month with a more female-focused lens. Dubbed “Black HERstory Month, the club is spending February showcasing trailblazing black women throughout history and honoring them through prayers, quotes on the monitors, and a display on the main bulletin board from February 11-20. With 2018 being a landmark year for black women in sports,
politics, and entertainment, the NDB community can expect to learn about people like Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim and Hijabi elected to U.S. Congress or Marsai Martin, the 14 year old star of the T.V. show “Black-ish” who became the youngest executive producer in history with her upcoming film “Little!” I Am Diverse streamed “The Hate U Give” which follows Starr Carter, a young black high school student who struggles with police brutality in her own community and the ignorance of her rich prep school. The film highlights the racial and cultural divide within our country and utilizes Starr, played by Amandla Stenberg, to symbolize that divide through her double
identities. When asked about how NDB should celebrate Black History Month, sophomore Shea Hanson says, “I think it’s really important to celebrate Black History Month here at Notre Dame considering our predominantly white culture. Even as a white person, I find value in learning about black history because they have contributed a lot to history in general. When asked about the cultural misappropriation of black culture, she says, “The I Am Diverse club talks a lot about cultural appropriation and, if you look at pop culture and specifically music, a lot of it had been stolen from black artists. So, we definitely owe it to them for being the ‘firsts,’ and we should recog-
NATALIE BEIER/THE CATALYST
The main board features the bios of notable black Americans. nize who they are.” As an all-girls school, we can all look up to these women as pillars of their community and shatterers of glass ceilings. To quote Misty Copeland, the first black
principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater, “All you can do is be your best self. I’m representing more than just me. I think everyone should be like that.”
A reflection on the black experience in America today From EXPERIENCE | Page 1 world. This premise allowed the movie to explore how African history would look differently without Western exploitation. It was a huge success in the box office, earning
1.3 billion in total, making it the highest grossing film by a black director and the highest grossing superhero film ever. This film was very important in terms of minority representation. For the first time, young black kids could see them-
selves on the screen in a positive light, represented in Hollywood. In the Super Bowl, for the first time in NFL history, there were male cheerleaders who happened to be black Americans. On the biggest stage in sports history,
Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies were among twelve other cheerleaders that performed. They made history at the beginning of the season being among three other male cheerleaders to cheer in the NFL for the first time. While they are
making great progress for the representation of the diversity of our country, Peron and Jinnies have faced a lot of criticism for being male cheerleaders. They have been open about their adversity, wanting to spread their story. This past year
Essay: A black student’s experience at NDB by Thea Thompson, Sophomore Black history month is a month to celebrate black excellence and culture. It is a chance to feel beautiful in our own skin and embrace being black — a chance to reminisce about the strength of our ancestors and past black leaders that have paved a way for us today. It is a month to really reflect on how much we’ve overcome and how much there still is to overcome. Growing up, I’ve always been in predominantly white and other race schools, which haven’t necessarily embraced the idea of black history month. In light of this, I’ve never expected much celebrating to be done in school. However, I don’t want this month to be completely ignored, or pushed aside. I think that the I Am Diverse club does the most in making it known, and I appreciate that. They showed movies last year and decorated the front wall. Even small things like that are better than nothing. I don’t want anyone to feel smothered by this month, but I still want it to be known. I also think that in history classes a little more can be taught than just what’s in the history book. There is a lot more to our history and culture than a small chunk in a large textbook. There is more to the story than the terrible things that were done to us. We don’t want anyone’s pity, acceptance and love from all sounds better
has seen many firsts in terms of black history. It is exciting to see the breakthroughs and to finally see representation, and while things have a long way to go, these are good steps forward.
ARTS & LIFE Black History Month: Learn about the black experience in America through historical dramas page 6
PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES
A scene from “Selma”
by Amelia Kyle Arts & Life Co-Editor
As you may know, February is Black History Month, a time where African American culture and history are celebrate and respected. There is no better way to celebrate the month than watching a plethora of movies that depict important events and figures in African American history. The first film that I recommend is “Selma,” a 2014 movie about the life and activism of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the movie stars David Oyelowo as King and focuses on the voting rights marches from
Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. The film is incredibly inspirational and shows one of the most important political activists in both Black and American histories and his work toward equality for black people in the United States. The next film on this list is “Southside with You,” which tells the story of how former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, first met. Not only is it a love story — great also for Valentine’s Day — but it also features the story of our country’s first African American president and first lady. The 2016 movie
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRAMAX
A scene from “Southside with You”
takes a look at their relationship from a unique and non-political standpoint, which is very enjoyable and refreshing. Another excellent film is “Loving,” which focuses on a young, interracial couple that is trying to fight for equal rights in 1950’s Virginia. It is based on the inspirational true story of Richard and Mildred Loving who changed the course of history for the marital rights of black and white couples. Their fight resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court case “Loving v. Virginia,” which declared laws prohibiting interracial marriage as unconstitutional.
The final film that I recommend is “42,” a movie about the life and career of baseball player Jackie Robinson. He was one of the very first black players in Major League Baseball, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and opened doors for other black athletes in the future. The 2013 movie, starring Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, shows many of the hardships and racist gestures that the ballplayer endured, but also portrayed his incredible ability to work through all of the roadblocks that were trying to stop him from achieving his goals. All in all, these
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES
A scene from “Loving”
PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.
A scene from “42.”
movies are just some of the many movies that depict excellent role models for not only the black community, but for all people, and
are great watches to celebrate Black History Month and learn something about the Black American experience.
What’s the big deal with the Oscars? Review: “The Bachelor” so far by Bella Lopez Staff Writer
Every year, the film industry puts together a show to commemorate the previous year’s best movies, an event known as the Oscars. The films range from short films to lengthy controversial ones, and everything in between. Sure, the event streams throughout the entire world, but that does not mean that everyone watches. According to a poll that I created on Instagram, only 29% of the responders said that they watch the Oscars, which leaves 71% of responders that don’t watch the show. Those that said they do watch, said that they watch only for Best Picture and Best Actor and “to see the different awards given out to all of the actors.” I’m sure that we can all agree that the day after the Oscars, radio hosts and entertainment articles are talking about the key moments, including speeches, funny moments, reactions, and more. There are articles showing the best and worst outfits on the red carpet and pictures of our favorite couples in show business. In my opinion, I prefer to watch the Oscars sitting down in the living
by Kelly Nolte and Bella Lopez Staff Writers
PHOTO COURTESY OF OSCARS.ORG
The Oscars celebrate the best of Hollywood. room with my mom. We love looking at all of the fancy dresses and judging whether or not we like them. I also love seeing a favorite actor or actress introduce an award. Sometimes they crack jokes, and sometimes they are witty with their choice of words. Another huge part of the show for me is the speeches. Hearing the actors and actresses that I am fond of, such as Lonnie Lynn in the 2015 Oscars, speak up about discrimination regarding “race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and social status” always leaves me feeling inspired. One of the best speeches that I have ever
heard was that of Oprah when she won the Cecil B. deMille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes. She had shared a moving story in support and recognition of the #MeToo movement. It left me feeling empowered and hopeful. That is the reason I love the Oscars most of all. The answer to the question “What’s the big deal the Oscars?” isn’t able to be answered by one sole response, but rather by the response of each person. It’s about the people who believe in the Oscars and in what can come from the film industry that have made it such a phenomenon.
Typically, Mondays are a sad start to the week. But, for fans of “The Bachelor,” it might just be the best day of the week. This year’s bachelor is Colton Underwood, former NFL star, former contestant in “The Bachelorette,” and former contestant on “The Bachelor in Paradise.” The first episode of every season begins with the iconic limo entrances which include silly costumes and cliche catch lines. One of the most memorable entrances was the girl dressed as a sloth. The second episode began with a group date where each girl told a story about “Their First...” to a live audience. During this date, Colton had kisses from Demi, Elyse and Hannah G. Next, was a one on one with Hannah B, and Colton went in with expectations as high as the sky and the date was so incredibly awkward. The third episode also began with a group date, and the theme was pirates as all the girls reenacted a pirates fight where the winner got to save Underwood. It became clear that Caelynn and Hannah B. had beef and still do. Elyse got the one on one
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEYABCPRESS.COM
Colton Underwood is this season’s bachelor. date in which they had an amusement park all to themselves and about ten kids. She went home that night with a rose. There was also a second group date that required the girls to show their tough side in body building challenges. At the start of episode four, there were fifteen women remaining in a new location: Singapore. Tayshia scored the first one on one, bungee jumping with Underwood, and finished the night with a rose. On the group date, the girls went through a local street market experiencing the culture. Caelynn also got a one on one date, went shopping, and also got a rose. For the fifth epi-
sode, Underwood and his ladies were in Thailand. Heather, the girl who has never been kissed got the one on one and finished the date not only with a rose, but with a kiss. Elyse did not have as good of a week, sending herself home since she could not see herself saying yes to a proposal. For the group date, the girls went into a jungle to learn life survival lessons. As of now, we have seen a preview for the next episode and just like each week before, it shows Colton running away, a lot of a swearing, and fence jumping. Will these scenes finally come to play next week? Bachelor fans sure hope so.
SPORTS page 7 Multi-sport athletes prepare for Basketball: “Hoops for Hope” upcoming spring sports season game is a win for mental health From ATHLETES | Page 1 This year, softball began tryouts on January 31, and at that point, soccer still had over five games left and its off-season. Sophomore Julia Granucci says she has a hard time transitioning between sports and creating the bonds with new teammates. She said, “Having the overlap between soccer and track makes it much harder for me to bond with new teammates and get prepared for the track season.” Having a strong relationship with your teammates is critical for a successful season, so without the ability to bond it creates a challenge for the track team. Senior Alex Gatt reflects on how the overlap can affect not only her performance, but her teams as well. She said, “I do think coming later does affect how I and my relay team performs. The three other girls [in the relay] also play winter sports, so we can’t train until we are all out there, which is about three to four weeks into the
NATALIE BEIER/THE CATALYST
Members of the swim team take a moment for a picture during practice. season.” Gatt continued. “Other teams have girls who are run year round, but we do not have that luxury. Despite this, we all want to be the best so we know how to get into that mindset, no matter the time.” It is clear that the overlap has an impact on the athlete, but it can also affect the team. It is what the team and athlete make of the situation. For senior Grace Earley, being late to track due to soccer season makes her push harder. She says, “I’ve found that this [participating in soccer and track] has
pushed me to maximize my time in track and work harder since I miss the beginning.” NDB student-athletes make being a back-toback athlete work because they are passionate about their sports. Gatt says, “Although back to back sports can be tough, I am so blessed to be able to play both and would not change it for the world.”
the CATALYST
NATALIE BEIER/THE CATALYST
Members of the basketball team huddle with their coaches before a game.
by Editorial Staff
The Passion Project is an annual assignment that seniors complete in their Spiritual Life classes. They create awareness for social issues that they care about a lot. With an emphasis on sustainability, the point of the project is to learn more about one’s self and what can be done in the NDB community. Seniors Emilia Dougherty and Anayanzi Tostado feel passionate about raising awareness about mental health issues. So, as basketball players, they created the “Hoops for Hope” basketball game.
Tostado says, “There’s a stigma surrounding talking about mental health and hopefully by... doing this and talking about mental health, it will help stop the stigma in some way.” The two students partnered up with Serra HS senior Luke Bottari. He has his own nonprofit organization called “Play 4 Prevention.” He visits Bay Area high schools and raises awareness about suicide prevention through sports. He hopes his work will help lower the teen suicide rate. In the days before the game and before the game itself, Dougherty
and Tostado sold bracelets, socks, and temporary tattoos. The money was donated to Bottari’s nonprofit. Before the game began, the two of them along with Bottari gave speeches to the crowd, emphasizing the importance of opening up and talking about mental health issues, especially suicide. Dougherty says, “Most people aren’t comfortable talking about these issues, but I think it’s important to bring these topics up so that people are aware of them.” With contributions Feauini Saulala
by
Featured student-athlete: Jordan McGlinchey, Soccer The Catalyst interviewed varsity soccer player and senior Jordan McGlinchey about her experience playing NDB soccer for the past four seasons. Last Saturday, the team made its first Central Coast Section championship appearance since 2004 and won the CCS Division II championship game. McGlinchey says, “[Soccer] has been challenging at times, but very rewarding.” Reflecting on playing with her teammates during these past years, she continued, “The seasons that I have shared with my team[mates] have been the best memories for me in high school... I think I work very well with my team. When asked what the sport means to her, she said, “Playing soccer for so long has taught me a lot about leadership. All throughout high school, [the] soccer season... has been the best time for me. I am the happiest and I feel the most supported. I feel this way because of my teammates and the atmosphere and bond that we all make with one another. I cherish the girls on my team and love every one of them.” She wants to remember the team’s traditions “because I know that I won’t ever get to experience this with them again.” She says the team’s bonds grew especially strong during its trip to a tournament in Arizona. She adds,“I want [the underclassmen] to know what it is like to have a close knit family and team just like I did all four years.” McGlinchey feels that soccer has helped her grow as a person throughout her high school career and hopes to continue playing the sport on a club team in college. Story by Parker Daley and Lilliana LoGiudice | Photo by Natalie Beier
FEATURE
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Valentine’s Day at NDB
Associated with chocolates, flowers, rom-com’s, and of course, relationships, Valentine’s Day has evolved from a cultural festival to a global phenomenon. For some, it can be a polarizing event with people either loving it or hating it. For others, it is less a focus on romantic relationships and more a focus on friendships. “Galentine’s Day” is a play on the day, designed to celebrate female friendships, and has grown in popularity with praise for its wholesome message and the fun that comes with recognizing one’s friends.
Opinion: Valentine’s Q&A: NDB & Serra High School sweethearts Day is a waste of time share their stories about love and relationships Jaya Kapoor Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst
You either love Valentine’s Day or love to hate it. It originated as the feast day for St. Valentine, but now most people agree that it is over-marketed and overrated. I personally do not care for Valentine’s Day, but do not find a need to hate it. It can be a special day for those with a significant other, but to me, it just seems like another day that companies, like Hallmark and Hershey’s, capitalize on to make more money. Candy boxes, heart-shaped balloons, and “I love you” teddy bears, crowd every store during the month of February. Valentine’s Day is now a holiday centered around consumerism, a truth buried behind pink ribbons and red glitter, instead claiming to celebrate the beauty of love. But, shouldn’t we celebrate love as a daily gift in our lives?
And, why is Valentine’s Day reluctant to include the love for family and friends? Romantic love is not the only type of love that is present in a person’s life and for many, it may not be consistently present either. Thus, Valentine’s Day is shrouded in a sense of exclusivity, reserved for only romantic couples. I have yet to meet anyone whose favorite holiday is Valentine’s Day since for most, it’s just another day. If you asked me for my opinion about this day when I was in second grade, I would have only good things to say since it was a day where I could get candy and a special note from each of my classmates. Ultimately, Valentine’s Day exclusively involves celebratory events when you are a child or in the honeymoon phase of a relationship and means nothing to most people.
News: Link Crew & Frosh celebrate Galentine’s Day by Editorial Staff As a treat for the the freshmen class, Link Crew hosted not a Valentine’s Day celebration, but a Galentine’s Day celebration, so its student leaders could show the freshman class just how much they love them. This is the first time that Link Crew has hosted such an event. Moderator Jennea Glenn suggested the idea at one of their meetings, and the board began planning something with the rest of its members. Each student leader got her assigned group of eight freshmen gifts to kickstart their Valentine’s Day and reminded them that someone will always be there for them, whether it be a member of Link Crew, their sister class, or anyone else on campus. Link Crew member and junior Ellie Muscat got her freshmen some cards and chocolates to
show that she cares about them as both a student leader and their sister. The freshman and junior classes are sister classes. Muscat said, “Even though this is my first year on Link Crew, I really care about my girls and want them to know they can come to me for anything.” She continued, “It has been a lot of fun to be a Link Crew leader, and I want my freshman to know that even after they are not freshman anymore, they will always be able to rely on me as their sister.” Link Crew meets throughout the school year to plan and host events for the freshmen class as well as offer them support. They hope that celebrating Galentine’s Day is a good way to get them through their second semester at NDB. With contributions by Ella Burrin.
by Bella Lopez Staff Writer
been together?
The Catalyst interviewed three NDB and Serra HS couples about high school relationships. Here’s what they had to say: The Catalyst (TC): How did the two of you meet? Avani Tumuluri and Nick Severino (A&N): We met through a mutual friend. We weren’t really interested at first until way later. Laura Gutierrez and Jack McCarthy (L&J): We’ve known each other since preschool, but we started talking again our junior year and then began dating.
A&N: Eight months. L&J: A year and three months (almost). M&D: 11 and a half months; almost a year. TC: How did the two of you know that you were in love with each other? A&N: I knew I loved him because it wasn’t infatuation. It was more like I loved everything about him, including his personality and the weird things he does. I just knew I wanted to support him in everything he does.
M&D: I don’t know. I just knew. I don’t know. I feel like, in the beginning, I felt like I loved him, but then later in the relationship, I knew I loved him. TC: What advice would the two of you give for getting into and being in a high school relationship? A&N: It’s going to be hard because we are really immature at this age. It will be difficult to cope with little problems that come up, but if you communicate a lot with one another, you will strengthen your relationship. It’s okay to fail sometimes as long as you’re committed.
TC: How long have the two of you
L&J: You just start feeling more comfortable with the person, talking to them about literally everything, and wanting to spend time with them because they make you happy and really appreciating them for the way they are.
L&J: I think that high school relationships aren’t something that people should look for and [should] just let it happen. When you’re in a relationship, [don’t] stress so much about it and take it one step at a time because we have so much ahead of ourselves since were still so young.
Avani Tumuluri and Nick Severino
Laura Gutierrez and Jack McCarthy
Maddie Reeves and Dom Bartlewski
Maddie Reeves and Dom Bartlewski (M&D): We met at a Super Bowl party last year.”
So, what do students think of Valentine’s Day? Just a couple of weeks ago, chocolate kisses and red lollipop hearts filled the aisles of stores and supermarkets everywhere. Valentine’s Day is a well-known holiday that people celebrate in a variety of ways. Many use the holiday as an excuse to eat candy and desserts, while others use it to show how much they appreciate their family, friends, or significant others. The Catalyst asked several students about their thoughts on this “no-break holiday.”
Sophomore Kristen Carpio: “Valentine’s Day is a time where you remember how much you love your friends. You don’t need a significant other to celebrate Valentine’s Day because it can be just as special spending time with your close friends. You also shouldn’t feel bad about not having a significant other because those kinds of relationships happen in different parts of everyone’s life.” Junior Chloe Mohan says, “I think it’s a happy day for some because everybody looks at it differently. The advantage is that you get to eat lots of chocolate and at least there are some good movies. However, I think that Valentine’s Day has become very commercialized.”
Junior Kaitlin McCarthy says, “I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a day of appreciation. Whether it is an appreciation for friends, family, or a significant other, it gives us a chance to let people know that we care about them.”