The Catalyst, Volume 7, Issue 6: March 2021

OPINION | Page 9

the

ARTS & LIFE | Page 13

SPORTS | Page 14-15

CATALYST

FOMO: FEAR OF MISSING OUT ON-CAMPUS

SOMEPLACE TO GO: FILOLI HOUSE & GARDEN

GAMES ARE BACK IN PLAY

T H E S T U D E N T N E WS PA P E R O F N OT R E DA M E H I G H S C H O O L

Volume 7, Issue 6

www.TheNDBCatalyst.com

Campus finally reopens

March 2021

NDB gathers online in solidarity with AAPI community

SCREENSHOT FROM EVENT LIVESTREAM

Various administrators, teachers, staff members and students participate in the lunchtime discussion panel.

by Paige Clarke News Editor

A masked-sophomore English class discuss William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” from six feet apart.

by Peyton Daley Managing Editor

After nearly a full year of online distance learning, NDB students returned to campus for in-person classes with the hybrid model starting on March 1. Freshmen and seniors were on-campus for the week of March 1, and sophomores and juniors came back the following week.

All students who chose to participate in the hybrid option returned to campus together during the week of March 15 in their respective cohorts.

Getting back on campus has been a priority for NDB since the beginning of the school year as it has been proven important for students to have the experience of being in the classroom and among their peers and teachers for their academics and mental health.

“While most older students can effectively learn online, being physically present in the classroom with teachers helps keep students engaged,” stated Chief Financial Officer Carolina Whitty, who worked with the school’s COVID-19 Operations team to create and implement the NDB’s reopening plan.

“In addition, students get much more than academics at school; they learn and practice social and emotional skills, obtain mental health support and other services that cannot be as easily replicated online. I believe that distance learning is no match for the valuable experiences that students derive from an in-person education.”

Before the start of winter break, students expected to return to campus in early January and start hybrid learning at the beginning of the spring semester. However, the return had to be pushed back, and it has taken until March due to county restrictions that stalled NDB from imple-

A COVID associate offers hand sanitizer to students as they re-enter the school building after lunch.

In response to heightened anti-Asian violence in the Bay Area and around the country, the NDB Administration released a letter on Friday, March 19 to the community, expressing their support for the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community, how these recent events do not align with NDB’s hallmarks, and opening communication and resources for AAP students and other community members experiencing racism.

“Our Notre Dame Hallmarks call each of us to respond in both words and deeds,” states Interim Head of See AAPI | Page 3

Community celebrates Women’s History Month Month with activities

No longer allowed in the dining room for lunch, students gather outdoors to eat and socialize with their classmates.

PHOTOS BY THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

menting the reopening plans.

“The biggest challenge has been the constant changes to the school reopening guidelines by the State of California and the County of San Mateo. Just when you have set your plan in place to reopen, they sometimes move the goal post, and it has been frustrating and challenging,” Whitty added.

Although students are now back at NDB, school is still far from normal. Students come to campus with staggered arrival times between 8:15 and 8:45 a.m., and then go outside between blocks while teachers sanitize the classrooms. Windows have to be left open and air purifiers are on in every classroom, leaving

students bundled up inside the cold classrooms.

Regardless, students are embracing the opportunity to be back in the classroom and back interacting with their peers and teachers in-person.

“My favorite part about being on-campus was probably being able to see people around and chat,” said freshman Niharika Nair. “I was able to meet more people than I had online.”

In order to keep the community safe, students and faculty are tested for COVID-19 weekly. The typical Wednesday testing for

Women’s History Month was celebrated for the entire month of March on a national scale, but was also honored here within the NDB community.

Every day of the month, the NDB administration sent school-wide emails featuring various women who have greatly impacted our world throughout history.

Those featured included poet Maya Angelou, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

See REOPENING | Page 5

See WHM | Page 10

SCREENSHOT FROM EVENT LIVESTREAM

Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson made a virtual visit as NDB’s WHM speaker.

by Amelia Kyle Editor in Chief

NEWS

page 2

Teachers and students start getting vaccinated

by Paige Clarke News Editor

With hopes of the end of the pandemic coming soon, many members of the NDB community have been fortunate enough to get their turn at a COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, the most difficult part of the vaccination process was booking the actual appointment, whether it was appointment availability or vaccine distribution.

“Getting the first appointment was the hardest part,” shared science teacher, Dr. Isabelle Haithcox, on her struggles to get an appointment for her shot. “Every time I went online, the appointments would already be filled up, but at some point, either

more doses became available or some people canceled their appointments because, all of a sudden, there happened to be availability for a same-day appointment.”

She was not the only teacher who had difficulty solidifying their appointment.

“It was a challenge to get my first appointment.

The vaccines became available to teachers at the end of February, but it took a couple weeks to get that first appointment,” stated History teacher Matthew Hankins on how booking an appointment took longer than eligibility. “Once the appointment was made, however, the process was easy.”

A majority of

PHOTO COURTESY OF MALLERY BARNES Senior Mallery Barnes smiles with her COVID-19 vaccination record Card cfter getting her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

those interviewed received their vaccine at the Oakland Coliseum vaccination site, reporting the process to be relatively quick.

“It was a fast process where you drive up and they give you the shot.

You then wait 15 minutes and are cleared to go,” explained Spiritual Life teacher Ynez Manalo on her vaccination process.

Going to Oakland is not the only option for getting vaccinated though.

Hankins was able to get his shot at a local hospital, and senior Emily Fletcher was able to get her shot at her family’s restaurant.

“My vaccination process was really easy as it was done by a mobile company that goes around to companies, such as

restaurants, and vaccinates the whole crew on the same day. It was a pretty quick process as I just had to show my ID, get the shot, then wait 15 minutes to see if I had any reaction,” explained Fletcher on a different way she was able to get vaccinated.

After the shot, aside from some muscle soreness and fatigue, no sources reported major side effects regardless of if they received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine, an individual is considered to be fully vaccinated. This provides them more protection against COVID-19 and a better sense of viral security.

“After the two

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLIN O’RIORDAN Senior Ashlin O’Riordan drove to the vaccination center at the Oakland Coliseum to get her turn at a shot.

weeks, I will be able to visit my grandpa who got extremely sick during COVID. I’m super excited because I miss him a lot and can’t wait to hang out with him,” shares senior Ashlin O’Riordan on her plans once she becomes fully vaccinated.

When asked what they would tell someone who was wondering if they should get the vaccine, the answer was a unanimous yes in hopes to return the world as close to normal as soon as possible.

“I would 100% recommend the vaccine to anyone that is comfortable, any step closer to immunity, quarantine ending, seeing family again and life going back to normal is a step towards the right

direction!” shares senior Mallery Barnes, on what she would tell someone interested in getting the vaccine. “I can only share from my experience but I have only good things to say about it. While getting the vaccine does not mean you can’t still get COVID I do feel safer knowing that my chances are a lot slimmer, and knowing that everyone around me is getting it too would ease the uncertainty of things opening back up again.”

Tigers, when it comes to your turn to get your vaccine, go to myturn.ca.gov and help stop COVID-19 and build immunity across our campus!

With contributions by Ava Marinos

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY FLETCHER Senior Emily Fletcher and her sister get vaccinated at their family restaraunt

Q&A with Nurse Bridget Wylie, RN

Due to the pandemic, NDB has opened new positions for people to help out the school community. One of these new roles includes the new school nurse, Bridget Wylie, RN, to promote health and safety measures on campus. The Catalyst discussed these protocols with Nurse Wylie.

The Catalyst (TC): Who are you?

How did you get the position at NDB? Bridget Wylie RN (BW): My name is Bridget Wylie. I’m a registered nurse.

I’ve been a nurse for about 35 years; my specialty was in pediatrics, mostly in oncology and pediatric emergency rooms and

neonatal intensive care.

And I got this job because my daughter is a sophomore [at NDB].

I got the parent notification, and it said that Notre Dame was looking for a nurse. So, when this opportunity came up, I thought this was something that could help me feel like I’m actually helping through this pandemic.

I’m also in charge of contact tracing. So, if anybody says that they have symptoms, I have to report that to the county.

And, I did a lot of the parent and student training that had to do with the sort of the medical side of our COVID protocols.

And, I’m also working hard at getting all the teachers vaccinated.

TC: What is your main function at TC: How does the COVID team enschool? For example, keeping track force safety around the campus?

BW: One of the things that we do of testing or maintaining policies? during our training is we put the reBW: A lot of the policies had already sponsibility on the students and the been written because we’re following staff. We can’t control what people the policies of the San Mateo guide- do out there, but we can control what lines and the state. So, my job is real- people do on campus. And that’s why ly to bring it all together and imple- some of our regulations are a little bit ment a lot of these actions. So, if we different than what’s in the county. have to have certain signs, I have to We also hired nine people make sure that they’re there. that we call COVID Associates, and

I’m doing all the testing, and they’re basically walking around I’m working with the [school] app to campus, making sure that people folmake sure that everybody can access low the rules, and we’re trying to all the app and... it’s as useful as we can be on the same team. make it.

NEWS page 3 NDB gathers online in solidarity with AAPI community

SCREENSHOT FROM EVENT LIVESTREAM

Kinesiology teacher and Head Athletic Trainer Christina Okubo hosts the discussion.

From AAPI | Page 1

Standing together On behalf of the NDB administration, faculty, and staff, Interim Head of School, Dr. Linda Kern, sent a March 19th email to the school community in support of the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities.

School, Dr. Linda Kern, in her letter.

“Working as a community dedicated to educating and empowering young women, we stand together and continue to make our best efforts to create a world that says no to violence and oppression.”

The email included a link to a gDoc with resources to address anti-Asian racism. It was compiled by Associate Director of International Students and Academic Skills Coach Gillian Imazumi-Hegarty. It includes articles, books, documentaries, and various activities to educate students on the history of anti-Asian racism in America and the current issues of anti-Asian racism. Resources for parents and teachers were also included.

On Wednesday, March 23, a Zoom space, titled, “Standing Together with the AAPI community,” organized by Kinesiology teacher and Athletic Trainer Christina Okubo, was attended by faculty, staff member, students, and others to show solidarity and open the conversation on the issues and allyship.

“More than anything I want, I want to give

#StopAsianHate

SCREENSHOT FROM EVENT LIVESTREAM

ASB President Mia Adao shares her thoughts. the students an opportunity to voice their concerns, too,” said Okubo in the opening of the meeting.

She continued, elaborating that students should “have a chance to speak to some adult leaders from the NDB community that... maybe they can relate to. And... to also... acknowledge the fact that we may be impacted by the violence that is going on towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.”

Several members of the school’s AAPI community shared their stories in both the large group and small group breakout room sessions. Discussions on identity, cultural struggles, and belonging were shared, and many could relate to each other’s experiences.

“This is impacting us in different ways, and I’m sure, again, whether you identify as AAPI or

not, it may be impacting you... So, part of it is... acknowledging that we’re all being impacted in some way, and there’s no right or wrong to it,” expressed Okubo on her hopes for the discussion and beyond.

“You know you may be fearful. You may be anxious. It may make you really angry, frustrated, disheartened... I mean you don’t really – and there’s no... wrong or right to how you’re feeling... It’s a lot of uncertainty… So, I feel like the more open discussion we have, hopefully, the better we can start to feel about it and figure out ways, like what can we do about this.”

NDB continues to offer support for the AAPI community and encourages any student impacted by the recent events to reach out for support from adults and community members.

For resources on addressing anti-Asian racism, visit Tiny.CC/TheNDBCatalyst-AAPI

NEWS

page 4

So, what’s the hybrid schedule like?

The on-campus student’s perspective

The online student’s perspective

The teacher’s perspective

by Kaelin Kockos Contributing Writer

by Eva Nichter Contributing Writer

by Ashley Strain Contributing Writer

NDB has recently opened up their campus for students to come back in a hybrid model. Students are divided into two cohorts: blue or gold, and alternate on which days they attend school; one of the cohorts will be on-campus, while the other cohort will attend on Zoom. Students may have both positive or negative experiences while they are adjusting to this new learning system.

The Catalyst interviewed sophomores Lauren Fitzgerald and Clarissa Wing to learn about their perspective on the return to campus and why they choose to participate in hybrid.

Within the past two weeks, NDB finally opened its doors to welcome students back onto campus for the first time in a year. However, with this new hybrid model, students also have the option to stay home and continue online classes like they have been doing for the past year. Some students have chosen to remain online because of various concerns and hesitations for returning to campus, or simply prefer to remain online for the rest of the school year.

The Catalyst interviewed sophomores Desea Bond and Gabby Wylie-Chaney and asked them about their thoughts on the new hybrid model and their choice to continue online.

TC: Why did you choose to stay online?

Desea Bond (DB): I chose to stay online because I didn’t want to risk going back in person. I know Notre Dame is safe, but I have asthma so I have to be careful.

Also, I would rather wait and come back whenever everything is back to normal.

The definition of hybrid is a combination of two things. The word was most commonly used when referring to cars, like hybrid SUVs. Now when you hear the word hybrid, you automatically think of our new school system. NDB is one of hundreds of schools in the state that were forced to develop an independent hybrid learning plan for its school -- and one that had to be approved by county health officials before it was able to be implemented.

Beginning on March 1, NDB students were brought on campus in a hybrid model that has two cohorts attend in-person classes two days a week -- either Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, Friday, with Wednesday as Tiger Day. While the schedule is an adjustment for the students, it is even more of an adaptation for teachers, who are forced to teach online and in-person, all at the same time.

The Catalyst caught up with freshman English teacher Allie Paske, who told us more about the adjustment process.

TC: What is a positive experience you had with NDB’s Hybrid Model so far?

LF: I’ve honestly really enjoyed hybrid so far. There are a lot of positives to it. The biggest one for me is that I just learn better in school than at home. I feel more confident asking my teachers questions. I can focus and find motivation better. And, because of the limited distractions, I get way more done, limiting my homework load.

TC: Have you had any positive experiences and/or negative experiences with NDB’s hybrid model so far?

DB: One positive thing is that I have the choice to stay online. One negative thing is that I can’t really communicate with the people on campus over Zoom.

TC: What challenges have you faced while balancing the students on Zoom and the ones in the classroom?

Allison Paske (AP): I would say the biggest challenge is splitting my attention between the two groups it makes it difficult to really feel present for both groups.

TC: Do you have any feedback for NDB’s hybrid model?

DB: No, I don’t have any specific feedback.

TC: What is a negative experience you had with NDB’s Hybrid Model so far?

LF: I think the main negative is that we can’t be back in person fully. The livelihood of NDB isn’t really there without everyone. It doesn’t have the same energy as it used to.

TC: Would you consider switching to on-campus learning?

DB: No, I don’t plan to come back on campus for the hybrid model.

TC: Have you noticed a change in the mood of the students? Was it a positive change or a negative one?

AP: I have noticed that students talk to one another more when they are in the physical classroom, definitely a positive thing, which makes me happy because quiet classrooms make me nervous!

The Catalyst (TC): Why did you choose to go back on campus?

Lauren Fitzgerald (LF): I choose to go back to campus because being online has taken a toll on me, physically and mentally. I needed a new environment, to move around, and to be in a space where I knew I could learn better.

TC: Do you have any specific feedback?

LF: No. TC: Would you consider switching to online learning?

LF: No, I am really glad to be back on campus safely, and I can’t imagine not going back.

TC: Why did you choose to go back on campus?

Clarissa Wing (CW): I chose to go back on campus because I wanted to see all my friends and teachers in-person. I felt that I would get more interaction on campus, rather than on Zoom.

TC: What is a positive experience you had with NDB’s hybrid model so far?

CW: A positive experience I had with NDB’s hybrid model so far has been having lunch. Music was playing on the loudspeaker, everyone was laughing with their friends, and the food we had all missed so much was back.

TC: What is a negative experience you had with NDB’s hybrid model so far?

CW: A negative experience during the hybrid model would be how cold it was in the classrooms. In every class, the windows were open and fans were blowing.

I made sure to dress warmer the following day.

TC: Would you consider switching to online learning?

CW: At the moment, I do not plan on switching back to online learning as I had a great time on my first day back.

TC: Why did you choose to stay online?

Gabby Wylie-Chaney (GW): I chose to stay online for a few reasons. The first one mainly is my knee. I’m still on crutches, so it’s really hard to get around Notre Dame, especially with the extra walking with the oneway hybrid model. It’s a lot harder for that, and I just feel safer at home.

TC: Have you had any positive experiences and/or negative experiences with NDB’s hybrid model so far?

GW: So far, I think there have been both positives and negatives. I think one of the main negatives is that it’s really hard for the teachers to balance both the in-class people and the online people and forget about the online people. Or, we can’t hear what’s happening in class, and we just have to wait until the teacher explains it. So, it’s hard to keep up a conversation.

TC: Do you have any feedback for NDB’s Hybrid Model?

GW: I think one of the main things would just be having speakers in the classroom, so that everyone can hear what everyone else is saying, but I think they’re doing a really good job [with] the safety.

TC: Would you consider switching to on-campus learning?

GW: I think definitely I would consider it once I’m off crutches. Maybe if we go into the yellow tier. I think Notre Dame especially is doing a really good job, [with] all of the safety precautions. So, I think it’s definitely timing. Maybe I’ll reconsider in a month or so.

TC: Have you seen a change in grade averages?

AP: Yes, since we transitioned to distance learning last March, grade averages have been much higher in my classes compared to past years. I think this is because of having an extra day each week to work on school assignments, to reset, and the fact that we don’t quiz or test as much as we used to.

TC: Would you say it is easier to teach in-person or online?

AP: I think easier isn’t the right word - they are both challenging and rewarding in different ways, but they are both manageable. Hybrid teaching is by far the most complex.

TC: How is it teaching in-person and online? What is the biggest obstacle?

AP: The biggest obstacle for teaching online is that you miss all the sidebar conversations that happen during class, which isn’t awful, but it takes more effort to build bonds, which I actually think can be a good life skill to learn and practice. I think the biggest obstacle for teaching in person will fall on this year’s current freshman class because they will not have experienced a five-day week - the pacing will be much faster than anything they’ve experienced thus far.

TC: If you could create the perfect schedule for students in a COVID environment, what would it be?

AP: Oh, this is a good question! I would imagine it would involve moving beyond traditional physical classroom and school building constraints.

TC: What do you think is the biggest misconception about online teaching and hybrid learning?

AP: I think the biggest misconception is that students don’t socialize and build meaningful bonds unless they are in a teacher’s physical classroom.

NEWS

page 5

After almost a year online, campus reopens for in-person classes From REOPENING | Page 1 students has been moved to during lunch on the A-days for their convenience.

A new B-day schedule was implemented, which requires that students leave campus at 12:45 p.m., rather than 2:55 p.m., and take their lunch with them to eat at home in order to minimize time spent on-campus.

This schedule was adapted, starting on March 23, to allow students to eat lunch on-campus between blocks 6 and 7 and leave school at 1:30 p.m. instead.

Now that hybrid learning has begun, students, parents and faculty are wondering when school events, such as dances, spirit rallies and graduation, can be held on-campus. The community can be optimistic that more in-person activities may be coming soon.

On “[March 18], I had a call with the San Mateo County Office of Education… Our school leadership team has been exploring ways to possibly hold some events in a safe manner, and we wanted to obtain the County’s guid-

ance on what they considered safe events,” Whitty described.

“On our call, they reiterated their position on limiting gatherings as it relates to non-essential activities, such as prom, etc., and stated that they considered anything outside of classroom instruction and athletics as laid out by the State sports guidance to be in direct contradiction to their guidance.”

She added, “However, I laid our safe event ideas out for them, and they promised to take our questions to the San Mateo County Health Office to see if they would consider the manner in which we would conduct these events as acceptable. They also alluded that, perhaps in the upcoming weeks, we may see additional guidance for graduations. So for now we are keeping our fingers crossed.”

While hybrid learning comes with many challenges, it is also an opportunity for students to reconnect with their classmates and teachers and offers hope for a more positive end to a very unusual school year.

Top: Students re-enter the school building with in a staggered schedule to allow for adequate social distancing.

Middle: Classrooms are equipped with hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, disinfectant spray and napkins to allow for cleaning. All faculty, staff and students are subject to weekly COVID testing.

Bottom: (From left to right) Juniors Sarah Massoudi, Sage Saperstein, Mara Riitters, and Emma Treanor socialize during lunch in the Father Downey Gardens.

PHOTOS BY THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

NEWS

page 6

One year later: A reflection on going to school online

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

From the archives: Sitting side-by-side, then-juniors Cailey Murad and Jolie Orban prepare to deal cards for The Gatsby Ball.

by Paige Clarke News Editor

Ask any NDB student what they remember from Friday, March 6, 2020, and chances are they have a story. Even with it being a seemingly normal day, it stands out in the minds of students from last year.

“I remember it being a normal day for the most part. Went to school, went home. Everything was just the normal routine of each week. It all was pretty much like the calm before the storm in a way,” said now sophomore Cassidy Morris on the seemingly monotonous day.

Even with the day seeming like it was just one out of 180, important events were coming soon to NDB that would never truly come, as remembered by former ASB President Annalee Wolfe.

“March 6 was the last day of school that I was able to attend in person as a senior. ASB had just finished prepping for Aquacades and was a week away from the event. I had seen a bunch of my friends that day and did not realize that would be the last time I would be on campus with all of my classmates before graduation. Looking back I didn’t realize how much I took for granted,” remembers Wolfe.

At the time, she was busy and fully focused on trying to put on “Citycades,” which was scheduled on her eighteenth birthday, March 20, 2020. While the banner for the event flew for months outside school, even after being shut down, the event never came.

Other students, like current Ambassador Board President Maggie O’Brien, remember March 6th not as the last day her whole class was on-campus, but for the other members who joined us at NDB that day.

“On March 6th, we hosted Little Sister Day, where I lost my phone in the beach volleyball courts and made a bunch of 5th graders look for it, for like 30

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

Masked and socially distanced, sophomores Ashna Tumuluri and Lauren Nobleza analyze a speech from William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

minutes,” explained O’Brien on how the little sisters of NDB took much of the focus, and many of which missed what would have been some of their last days in their younger grades.

Some students, like current junior Katie Spencer, remember the day not because of what happened on-campus, but because of their campus absence.

“The week of March 6th, 2020, I was really sick. I ended up being sent home on that Friday and haven’t gone to a day of on-campus school since!” shared Spencer on how she was not even fully present on her last day on-campus.

While COVID-19 had begun to be discussed, students were still relatively blind to what was coming ahead.

“I remember that it was Friday, and I was super tired. It was a long week. All I could think about during my last two blocks was that I couldn’t wait for the weekend. I had no idea that it would be my last day of in-person school for the year,” shares current senior Alyssa Enriquez on how truthfully unaware she and other students were on what was soon to come.

Coming into the weekend of the 6th-8th, the buzz around COVID-19 became more significant, and it soon became apparent that this was a bigger issue than we could have imagined. Click on the TV, go to any news source, and COVID-19 was the biggest thing being talked about.

“I remember coming home from school and looking at the news that schools were soon to be canceled, and we were required to self-quarantine to ease the cases,” senior Mabrey Cliff explains on what followed her day on-campus.

Still, until Sunday, March 8, 2020, at 8:57 p.m., the campus community believed they would be returning to campus like normal on Monday. An email was sent from now former Head of School Maryann

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

From the archives: Sitting side-by-side at a table, then-juniors Miranda Chan, Kelly Shackel and Shea Hanson eat lunch in the dining room.

Osmond, announcing that a three-day cleaning break would be implemented. Students were expected to use Schoology to access their classroom materials, which soon became common practice for the remainder of the year.

“I went to Starbucks with three of my best friends after school and went home. I started working on my socratic seminar for U.S. History that was supposed to be due on Monday, but we never ended up doing. My friends picked me up later from my house that night on March 6, and we went to the Capuchino High School baseball game and drove around San Bruno, singing the “Victorious” soundtrack. I spent the rest of the weekend with my friends, completely clueless that this weekend would be the last fun one for a while,” shares O’Brien on how, like many students, she treated the weekend like every other, not knowing it would not be the same.

Since March 6, NDB’s shut down was extended multiple times, going from three days to three weeks to the end of the 2020 school year to September 27th to the beginning of January to eventually where we are now with school opening back up March 1st, 360 days later.

In these 360 days, the community experienced a virtual Senior Day of Reflection, two rounds of online finals, a drive-through graduation, Zoom freshman orientation, senior drive-in movie night, socially distanced outdoor sports, learning pods, two members of administration leaving, a whole new approach to winter formal, and lots of lots of masks.

Regardless of what is remembered from March 6, 2020, the world as a whole took a hit from COVID-19, and hopes for the world returning to “normal” continue.

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

Masked and socially distanced at different tables, seniors Miranda Chan, Mallery Barnes, Shea Hanson and Kaelin Hughes talk in the gardens.

NEWS

page 7

Q&A with ASB and class council members

As campus reopens and things go back to kind of normal, many students are returning to a daily routine of hybrid classes, Tiger Days, and extracurricular activities, including clubs and sports. Aquacades season is coming, and The Catalyst sat down with a member from each of NDB’s ASB and class councils to find out how their classmates have been doing and what the student body can expect from their student leaders for the rest of the school year.

Freshman Class President Julia Oliviera-Killmon The Catalyst (TC): What are your plans for your class for the rest of the school year?

JO: I think we’re going to try and implement some activities on-campus to make it like more fun and to encourage going back to school and the positive energy of going back to school because we – like the student council knows – there’s a lot of like nervousness, especially from freshmen.

So, we’re just trying to make it fun for them.

TC: How has your class council supported your classmates this year so far?

JO: I think mostly just like mental health. We try to be big on that. During our meetings, we try to make it as fun as possible with music and stuff, and just having the student council being present and showing the freshman class that, “Hey, we’re still here,” like we know what everyone’s going through, we’re here for you, and we make sure to send a lot of resources. I know definitely during Mental Health Day, we sent out an email with resources and stuff, just saying, “We’re there for everybody.” So, just being there for our class.

Junior Class President Ali Lewis TC: What are your plans for your class for the rest of the school year?

AL: Right now, we’re heading into Aquacades, just trying to boost the spirit of our class and get people excited to participate, even though it’s still going to be virtual.

TC: How has your class council supported your classmates this year so far?

AL: I think we’ve been doing a lot just to keep everyone positive, with, like, gift bags and activities and everything. It’s been pretty difficult just to stay interactive with everyone, but going back into hybrid has really helped – like seeing people in person and getting to interact. But, hopefully, we can just continue to bring the class spirit up when we move into the next couple months of the school year.

Sophomore Class President Kassie Hickson TC: What are your plans for your class for the rest of the school year?

KH: Just in terms of leadership and stuff, we want to plan more stuff that’s on-campus just to get our class re-connected because it can be challenging, for sure. Just like in our class meetings, those are hard to get everyone... interacting because a lot of people have their cameras off, you know. It makes sense. So, we’re hoping to do more stuff on-campus and hopefully Aquacades will work somewhat normally.

TC: How has your class council supported your classmates this year so far?

KH: In the beginning of the year… I know there was a lot of challenges with the homework load that we were getting. So basically, we all kind of met and we talked... with a couple other staff members... about our experiences and like what was going on because I think a lot of people were feeling super overwhelmed and I do think that a change happened between first and second semester... But yeah, I think there’s still room for it to get better though.

Senior Class President Ashlin O’Riordan TC: What are your plans for your class for the rest of the school year?

AO: There isn’t a lot that we can get planned. I’ve asked to do a few things, and they’ve all shut those down. Within the next week, we should know more because we move tiers. The one thing that we do have is... when you give back something to the school at the end of your senior year. So, I was talking to [Mr. Retelas], and we came up with the idea to paint a 2021 mural on... where the Aquacades sign is, there is that blank side.

TC: Are there any other class events coming up?

AO: Since we’re in the orange tier, we’re not allowed to have field trips. So, for a senior sunset, when it gets closer to like, after spring break and it’s like all warmer, they’re thinking maybe we can have a senior sunset on campus. [It’s] still all up in the air, but that’s the only thing that we can plan for right now.

ASB Athletics Director Carmela Zumot TC: What are your plans for the student body for the rest of the school year?

CZ: Right now we’re planning Aquacades and we’re discussing and the details with Ms. Bergholm and Mr Levine and coach Christina and we’re talking about how we’re going to do practices, how we’re going to encourage people to sign up and how the whole thing is gonna go because we’re planning on practicing on campus and then filming.

So as of right now that’s the project we’re working on.

TC: Is there anything you would like to share with the student body?

CZ: We’re very proud of the students so far and I know this is not like the easiest time to do school and stuff like that but we’re excited that we get to be your ASB and try to plan things and we encourage you to participate in them because we got, we want you guys to have fun.

What do you want to see happen for the rest of school year?

Let us know @TheNDBCatalyst

Text by Paige Clarke, Peyton Daley and Kaelin Hughes | Photos courtesy of ASB and class council members

OPINION Should you, would you get vaccinated?

page 8

Charlotte King Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

So, what do you think?

6 feet or 3 feet?

How far apart do you really need to be in the classroom to be safe?

Tell the Editorial Staff @TheNDBCatalyst

With a variety of different single and multiple-dose vaccines now available to US citizens across the country, more and more people are able to get vaccinated.

At this point, one in eight Americans have received at least one dose, and many have taken the full dosage of the vaccine.

I talked to students within the Tri-School community to hear how they feel about getting the vaccine and how it would impact their lives.

As more information about the vaccine has rolled out with more testing, a vast majority of people have become more comfortable with getting their shot. However, there are people who are still unsure of it given how new the vaccine is.

“I will definitely get vaccinated. Despite people’s concerns about the side effects, I trust the medical field in the safety of this vaccine. I also believe

son & Johnson vaccines have a minimum age of eighteen, whereas the Pfizer vaccine is sixteen and up.

This draws the line at sophomore year, with upperclassmen eligible but most underclassmen not eligible.

“If I had the chance, I would get vaccinated. I am around a lot of people at school, work, and sports, but I cannot get the vaccine yet because I am

ents and family, “ said NDB sophomore Anna Keim.

The NDB community has had many students and teachers start to get vaccinated through eligibility from work, health, and other personal reasons.

“I know all of the best doctors and scientists that it is part of my civic throughout the world have duty in order to help the been working on getting country move forward and this vaccine produced and out of this pandemic,” said making it safe and accesMercy Burlingame senior sible for everyJulia Reilly. one,” said NDB Resophomore opening the Ciara KingTr i - S c h o o l ham. “I have community is actually had likely going my first shot to encourage and plan on those eligigetting my secble to get ond shot right vaccinated before spring in order to break. I feel create a safer protected, and environment. safer, both for Hopefully, as my community people conand myself. ” tinue to get Overvaccinated all, it seems and feel more as though comfortable, the consenthe commuPHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH / HAKAN NURAL sus within the nity will be Students have to decide if they will get vaccinated, too. community is able to interact safely among schools. not sixteen. Even though I to get vaccinated as soon

NDB has students am not considered high risk as possible, as it will make aged from 14 to 18, which for getting seriously ill from students and teachers alike means that not all students the virus, I would want to feel safer and inch closare eligible to get vaccinat- get the shot to make me feel er to a sense of normalcy. ed. The Moderna and John- safer around my grandpar-

Lonely lunches: Eating lunch six feet apart...

by Brooke Horvai Assistant Opinion Editor

With students finally attending school on campus comes the new lunch model. As required, students must remain six feet apart while eating.

This means that a lunch table can only be occupied by one person, making it hard for students to interact with their friends. Friend groups are constantly reminded to stay six feet apart by teachers and any administration who sees them. In order to carry on a conversation, friends have to practically yell at each other. Because of this difficulty, many students have mixed feelings about the new system.

“Last year, my friends and I all tried to cram into two really tiny tables and there were like twenty of us,” said junior Sophia Dinelli. “[Now] all my friends are super spread out so it’s really hard to have conversations because we’re yelling at each other from across the tables.”

Dinelli later commented that the experience was much less social and personal. That perspective seems to be shared through a majority of the students, who want to have private conversations without yelling their thoughts to the entire student body.

While some students would prefer to spend their lunches talking with friends and being social, others appreciate the space and break it provides.

“I didn’t get too involved in the conversations because it’s just far [away],” commented junior Lexi Coral. “I don’t want to scream so I’ll probably just spend my time doing something else...just watching shows or shopping online.”

For more introverted students like Coral, lunch is a much-needed breather from classes. And for some girls, that breather necessitates headphones and a quick escape.

As the hybrid model becomes the new normal, so does the new lunch model. Eventually, eating while separated will become the standard, as has everything else during the pandemic.

Throughout the student body, the overall consensus is that lunch is not truly lonely. Yes, it is difficult to talk to friends and share the same connection, but it is still a relief to see the people we have grown close to.

“Even though we weren’t really able to hold a conversation, we just like being around each other,” finished Dinelli. “I think it was really important and I think that we’ll continue to do that because that was something that we were really missing at home...Even if we can’t talk, being around each other is a really great thing.”

OPINION Should AP students be required to take their AP exams?

Peyton Daley Managing Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

The end of a school year is always a busy time for high school students, but for those in AP classes, spring comes with the added stress of AP exams. However, a lot of this anxiety could be reduced if NDB gave students the option of whether or not to take the exam for each of their AP courses.

AP exam scores are used to receive college credit, but many private colleges only accept a certain number of classes for credit. Some do not accept any at all or re-

quire additional entrance tests to receive AP credit.

State schools such as the University of California are more lenient, but still, only accept a score above a 3 (on a scale from 1 to 5) as college credit. Therefore, if students do not feel confident that they can receive a passing score, they should have the ability to opt-out of an exam since it will not benefit them later on.

AP test scores can also be reported on college applications, so a high score could be helpful for

students. Still, those taking multiple APs may want to prioritize certain classes, especially since exams can be back to back on the same week or even the same day.

“Students should be given the option to take the AP exams because it is another stressful test near finals and some students may just want to focus on finals,” said NDB junior Kayla George.

Whereas AP exams are optional to report, a final grade can impact a student’s overall semester grade, which is not optional to leave off of a transcript.

Having to juggle both finals and AP exams could be costly for some girls’ grades.

Especially this year, it is important for students to have the choice to sit out of AP tests. The College Board has given

schools the option of doing online or in-person exams. Unfortunately, due to the Bay Area’s COVID-19 restrictions and the number of students taking AP exams, NDB cannot offer in-person tests. Typically, exams are offered during the first two weeks of May and students have a small break before finals. Since online exam dates are later than the in-person ones, NDB students will take their tests between May 11 and June 10. This means that many students will have to take their exams the days before and after finals.

Some girls are even taking tests after graduation.

“I feel that students taking AP courses shouldn’t have to take the AP exams this year,” shared NDB junior, Makena Conneely. “One of my AP ex-

ams is after the end of the school year and I will be traveling on that date, which makes it very difficult and stressful to take the exam.”

The past year has also raised new questions on the effectiveness and equity of standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT in college admissions. The same sentiments can be applied to AP exams; the tests themselves cost $95, and then there are the outside tutoring programs, review books, etc. that create an unfair advantage for those who can afford them.

The purpose of taking an AP class is not to get a 5 on the exam, it is to learn and be challenged with college-level material throughout the year. College Board’s tests should not be a required add-on.

The thing about the College Board though...

Clair Sapilewski Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

SAT season is upon us, and after taking the PSAT on January 26, many juniors are scrambling to schedule a time to take the infamous test.

Unfortunately, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to get an appointment due to the circumstances this year.

Over two million students take the SAT through College Board, a non-profit organization, each year. It seems odd that a test with such a big applicant pool is nearly impossible to get an appointment for, even in a pandemic. In order to open a new testing

center, a willing school is needed to host. However, plenty of locations are hesitant to open their doors to test takers because of the liability problems if someone were to test positive for COVID-19 after the test.

Because of this, many testing centers get cold feet and decide to cancel the test, sometimes on the morning of the test.

This causes students to drive sometimes hundreds of miles and cross state lines to a testing center only to find a sign on the door explaining that the test was canceled.

Although the pan-

demic has caused a majority of the testing fiascos, College Board is not guiltless. It costs $50 to take the SAT, $64 if you decide to opt-in for the essay and advanced score reports. This is not an easy sum for some to pay, and it is hard to justify the cost when all that is required for the test is a few papers and a proctor to monitor the operation.

As the only company regulating SAT and AP tests, the College Board has by definition, a monopoly. This seems off, as the words, “monopoly” and “non-profit” do not exactly go hand in hand.

Furthermore, the CEO of the College Board makes nearly one million dollars a year, not something that usually indicates an altruistic non-profit organization. It certainly makes one wonder: would the test be cheaper and easier to take

if there were competing organizations?

For the class of 2021, 99% of colleges did not require the SAT, given the extraneous circumstances. Fortunately, most colleges have already declared that they will not require the class of 2022 to take the SAT to apply.

This relieves some of the pressure to take the test, but many students are still planning on taking it.

“I feel that because they [the colleges] are test-optional, if I do well on the test, I can give that and it will give me a leg up on other people who did not take it,” junior Emma Nilstoft explained. “And I won’t have to scramble or take the test in October when I haven’t been prepping.”

The user interface on the College Board’s website is also less than

optimal. While trying to get an appointment, the site crashed due to a “System error” twice, causing me to repeat the 20-minute process over and over. When I finally arrived at the “Choose your testing location” page, there was not a single available testing location in the state. I knew this was false, and after calling the College Board, I scored a coveted testing location in Stockton.

Hopefully, with the new COVID-19 vaccines, schools will become less hesitant to open themselves up as testing centers and appointments will stop getting canceled. Standardized testing is rarely regarded as a fun event, but it is often a necessary one.

Between schools canceling tests combined with College Board doing nothing, many students will not get to take the SAT.

Most NDB teachers are in person and they lead the Zoom room from their classroom. When an NDB student logs into Zoom from home, she is greeted with a maskedup teacher and a view of both the classroom and the girls sitting at their desks. The teacher then starts class for the on-campus and online students.

Class discussions usually result in the in-person students talking and the girls online are left out and don’t have the motivation or want to participate. It’s so easy and normal for the teacher and students to talk back and forth but it is hard for the students who have to worry about a mute button.

For me, the hardest part about being an on-

line student is the feeling of being left out. It feels like you are just watching them have fun and banter back and forth, living life as normal. Except when sitting on my computer screen, it doesn’t feel normal to me.

It is so strange to watch the class from the outside, playing out like a movie.

When I am not physically in the class, it is really sad to see the other students on-campus.

And because I do go to in-person classes twice a week, I know how much fun they are having, fun that I can’t experience.

In a sense, I am lucky because I have the fortune to be able to go to school, even though it is for a small amount of time. But it is really dis-

appointing when I have to go back online and sit in Zooms the rest of the week.

“Sometimes I just don’t want to go to class,” said freshman Anna Ansari. “Because it gets boring being a student online.”

Students like Ansari get tired of doing the same thing every day, and going to school really helps break the norm of the routine. But when the student is put back on Zoom, they are just continuing the same repetitive and mind-numbing schedule as before.

Clearly, the hybrid system isn’t perfect and NDB girls will have to work on defeating their FOMO and enjoying the time on campus. It is a work in progress but everyone is happier to be in school than online.

FOMO: The fear of missing out on-campus from online Mia Muzzi Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

NDB’s hybrid program is working out very well, but like anything there are flaws, and one difficulty to be overcome is the “FOMO” that some Zoom students feel. Most students can vouch that when at home, it is disappointing to see the other girls in the classroom laughing and talking amongst each other. Meanwhile, the other part of the class is sitting in front of their computer, just watching and listening.

I am participating

in NDB’s hybrid model for in-person school and it is an amazing opportunity to be able to go to school during this time. As a freshman, I am so relieved to be back in school, even though it’s only been two days a week.

For NDB’s hybrid program, they split the school into two halves.

Half of the students are online Monday and Tuesday, while the other half are participating on campus. Then on Thursday and Friday, the students switch places.

page 9

theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Amelia Kyle MANAGING EDITOR Peyton Daley NEWS EDITOR Paige Clarke OPINION EDITOR Clair Sapilewski ASST OPINION EDITOR Brooke Horvai ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Victoria Bartels SPORTS EDITOR Kaitlyn Lopez PHOTO EDITOR Jennifer Huang STAFF WRITERS Emma Callicott Izzy Enock Kaelin Hughes Charlotte King Nicole Miller Audrey Mogannam Mia Muzzi Lynne Pan Anna Sanguinetti FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas

ABOUT THE CATALYST

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

EDITORIAL POLICY The Catalyst accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as press releases from on and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication.

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.

CONTACT US The Catalyst Notre Dame High School 1540 Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002 Phone: (650) 595-1913 Email: TheCatalystNDB@ gmail.com Website: www.

TheNDBCatalyst.com Social Media / Instagram & Twitter: @TheNDBCatalyst

page 10

FEATURE

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

This month, The Catalyst celebrates the strength of women from all cultural, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds throughout history and today...

Community celebrates Women’s History Month with series of events WHM | From Page 1

“As an all-women’s high school, this is a particularly exciting time to celebrate the women who have come before us and upon whose shoulders we stand,” said Director of Communications George Retelas in an email to the NDB community.

“Women continue to make tremendous strides in our country and around

NDB celebrated WHM with a featured woman of the day, including Maya Angelou Octavia Butler Rosa Parks Shirley Chisholm Michelle Obama Sonia Sotomayor Ellen Ochoa Greta Thunberg Malala Yousafzai Oprah Winfrey Gloria Steinem Ruth Bader Ginsburg Barbara Gittings Zanele Muholi Tammy Duckworth María Grever Sandra Day O’Connor Helen Zia Kelly Izdihar Crosby

the world, not the least of which is the United States electing the first woman vice president to hold office.”

In addition, the administration prepared a program filled with several activities, discussions, and prayer services lasting throughout the whole month. On International Women’s Day, March 8, a school-wide prayer service was held to acknowledge

the many strides and accomplishments achieved by the female sex. Also, films including “On the Basis of Sex”, “Becoming”, “Whale Rider”, and “Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson” were shown weekly over Zoom, followed by group discussions analyzing the films.

The school also hosted Rose Jacobs Gibson, the former Mayor of East Palo Alto, who gave a

talk about her involvement in local politics and her encouragement of others to make change. According to Interim Head of School Linda Kern, Gibson’s talk was hosted “in honor of Women’s History Month and in celebration of local women leaders of color.”

Overall, the NDB community has done a lot to commemorate the national observance of Women’s History Month.

Featured alumna: Jennifer Salma, ‘88

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNIFER SALMA

Then and now: Jennifer Salma is a graduate of the Class of 1988.

by Mia Muzzi Staff Writer

Jennifer Salma graduated from NDB in 1988 and still maintains her Tiger pride to this day.

She leads a very successful life, living with her family and helping out in her community. Salma covered many fields of work and is no stranger to the inequality and discriminations that women must face daily in the workplace.

Salma attended college at UC Santa Barbara and got a degree in political science with an emphasis on public service. She then continued onto law school and got a degree in San Francisco. She has always enjoyed challenging herself academically and while still in school, she took many honors classes and met her best friends

while doing so.

After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, she worked at an internship in D.C for Democratic Congressman George Miller. She loved D.C. so much that she continued to live and work there for a few more years.

However, she was also interested in seeing the world, so she backpacked around Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia for a year before coming back to San Francisco for law school. Public service was her passion and she worked in that area up until the time she had kids.

Salma feels that her family and kids are her greatest achievement and she is very proud of who they have become.

“It’s challenging to raise children and have a family that is function-

al and together, but we all love each other and we work through all of our difficulties,” said Salma. “Just accepting my kids for who they are and really helping them thrive to become the best person they can be is what I consider my greatest achievement to be, so far.”

Due to her work involvement and womanhood, she has experienced gender bias in the workplace.

“Oftentimes I was at a meeting with 20 men, and I was the only woman sitting at the table,” stated Salma. “And that was intimidating.”

Now, in 2021, Salma still believes there is a lot of change to be made for women’s equality but there has been progress made.

Salma agrees that women’s equality is still a pressing matter.

“There’s a lot more awareness about females and also the value that they can add to an organization or the skills that they bring that might be different to the skills that males bring. And I think that people understand now that women in the workplace, can be just as valuable if not more valuable in certain areas,” emphasized Salma. “I think that there’s still a lot of undervaluing going on for women, with regard to pay and things like that but I think there’s been a lot of changes.”

Salma brings a lot of pride to the NDB community. With this month being National Women’s History month, it is especially appreciated for all that she has done and will continue to do throughout her future.

FEATURE

page 11

The history of the American women’s suffrage movement

by Amelia Kyle Editor in Chief

The ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, granting American women the right to vote, did not pass until a century ago.

The passage of this amendment was the direct result of an eight-year long fight led by advocates of women’s suffrage, who persisted despite extreme public opposition to voting equality.

The battle began in 1840, when women’s rights pioneers Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were prohibited from attending the World Anti-Slavery Convention due to their sex. As a result, they decided to build a Women’s Rights Convention, which eventually came to life in the state of New York 8 years later.

Over time, similar conventions were held in the United States also pe-

titioning for legal equality between men and women.

They became breeding grounds for intersectional alliances between feminists fighting for women’s rights and abolitionists fighting for an end to slavery. Some abolitionists consistently in attendance at these conventions were Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Lucy Stone.

The women’s suffrage movement is a clear historical example of the importance of social justice groups banding together instead of attempting to outshine each other. Feminists and abolitionists lifted, empowered, and aided each other in achieving the individual goals of both groups, which they both successfully did.

In 1866, this intersectionality was furthered by the formation of the American Equal Rights Association (AERA), an organization created by Stanton

and fellow suffragette Susan B. Anthony. The goal of the AERA was to achieve suffrage for all American citizens, regardless of sex or race.

An amendment granting women’s suffrage was originally proposed in Congress in 1878, but failed to pass through the Senate. Although women could not vote on a national level, state governments had the power to legalize it.

The first state to do so was Wyoming in 1890, which had previously granted women this right while it was still a territory of the US.

The Progressive Era, which lasted from 1890-1925, brought women’s suffrage into major political discussions and achieved national attention. Colorado became the second state to grant women’s suffrage in 1893, three years after Wyoming. More and more state constitutions

PHOTO COURTESY OF SENECA FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A scene from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, the first ever for U.S. women’s rights.

began ratifying it, with California joining in in 1911.

Shortly before the national ratification of women’s suffrage, Jeannette Rankin, a politician from Montana, became the first woman in the House of

Representatives in 1917. At the same time, then-President Woodrow Wilson publicly supported the right for women to vote, and urged the Senate to pass it after the end of World War I. The Nineteenth Amendment

The story of the first woman in the U.S. Navy

by Audrey Mogannam Staff Writer

On March 21, 1917, Loretta Perfectus Walsh was the first American woman to enlist in the Navy that served beyond a nursing capacity. A mandate was passed on March 19, 1917, to allow women to enlist in the Navy. When Walsh heard this news she wasted no time and hastily made her way to enlist.

Walsh was a patriotic woman looking for ways she could further serve her country that she dearly revered. There was a clear solution for Walsh: the answer to this invigorating question was to serve in the Navy.

Initially, Walsh was reportedly not loved or respected by many. In a majority of scenarios, whether it be the workforce, corporate world, or beyond, men were given respect by default. This was especially true in the Navy due to the

International Women’s Day 2021 took place on Monday, March 8. This day celebrates any cultural, political, and socioeconomic accomplishments, such as the women’s rights movement. It additionally highlights issues women still face today, including gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.

International Women’s Day has been observed by many since the

All information used in this article was collected from the National Women’s History Museum/crusadeforthevote.org.

fact that until 1917 the navy was an entirely male-driven environment. On the contrary, women like Walsh had to work three times as hard to earn the respect that men were given naturally.

However, defying social norms, Walsh did prove herself. She became a Chief Officer within a year of her training.

Walsh unfortunately died in war doing what she loved. Walsh served in the army till her death, from age 21 to 29.

Although Walsh is one of many women to accomplish what was deemed impossible feats for women, Walsh’s story adds to the collective impact of Women’s History Month pushing women to progress.

Walsh’s accomplishments inspire other women to achieve their goal and break new boundaries every day.

Women’s History Month is about celebrating

the women who have made outstanding strides far from the ordinary, breaking cultural and social barriers.

These amazing women are acknowledged in Women’s History Month to empower other women to achieve greatness in their own terms and capacity. This month is not completely about learning women’s strides in history. This month represents more.

Women’s History Month is about teaching women by example of other accomplished women in history to be confident in their own skin to take on greater obstacles than yesterday. This month reminds women who they are and where their roots lie.

In her time, Walsh achieved what seemed impossible and frowned upon by many. Now Walsh is celebrated as the first ever woman in the Navy. With Walsh’s strides, she made women in the Navy yester-

day’s impossibilities and today’s ordinary. Without her strides to enlist as a woman in the Navy, it is a possibility that it might not have ever been done.

For society to proceed with its time, taboo has to be demolished and new social norms must be created. Walsh demolished the taboo of women be-

ing incapable of strength whether it be physically or mentally. Women in the 1900’s were expected to remain home, bear children, cook meals, look pretty, and clean. Walsh envisioned more, society’s taboo remained in hindsight for her.

Walsh pushed the women of her time

out of their comfort zones by showing others what women were capable of.

She inspired women to do what they thought was impossible. Loretta Perfectus Walsh taught women that anything is possible with passion, power, and determination.

early 1900’s, with the very first gathering being held in 1911.

It all started in 1908, when women’s oppression and inequality were especially transpiring.

This encouraged countless women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. More than 15,000 women decided to march through New York City, to demand shorter hours, better pay, and of course, voting rights.

The colors that symbolize International Women’s Day are purple,

green, and white. Purple represents both justice and dignity. Green signifies hope. White represents purity, although being a quite controversial concept.

These colors originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union, which took place in the United Kingdom in 1908.

Each year, there is a different theme for International Women’s Day. For example, last year, the theme was “An equal world is an enabled world.”

This year, the theme is “Choose To Chal-

lenge,” with a huge emphasis on inclusivity. Together we are all called to recognize and take part in the fight against gender bias and inequality.

Additionally, we are called to celebrate the amazing women who have paved the way for us and allow us to recognize our potential.

Some examples are Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Amelia Bloomer, Susan B. Anthony, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Mary McLeod Bethune,

Lucy Stone, Daisy Elizabeth Adams Lampkin, Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, and Mary Church Terrell. Each of these twelve outstanding women took part in the women’s suffrage movement.

International Women’s Day does not specifically belong to a charity, group, government, or organization. This day belongs to everyone, primarily those who care about human rights. So, make International Women’s Day a day to speak up, stay informed, and posi-

tively influence and celebrate women.

Although we have come a long way, such as having the first ever female Vice President, Kamala Harris, in United States history just this year, there is still work to be done to eliminate gender bias and discrimination of women in society.

As young ladies who attend an all-girls Catholic school, it is our job as NDB students to take part in the action and advocate for women’s equality.

PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. NAVY MEMORIAL

Loretta Perfectus Walsh before her time in the Navy.

What is International Women’s Day?

by Nicole Miller Staff Writer

was officially ratified on August 26, 1920.

page 12

ARTS & LIFE

Oprah interviews Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan

by Nicole Miller Staff Writer

Oprah Winfrey held a highly anticipated interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, on the Sunday night of March 7.

The couple moved to the United States just over a year ago. The main reason for this new adjustment is said to be largely due to the bullying of Meghan Markle, not only by the press, but also the royal family themselves.

The couple announced that they would not be returning to their royal duties. They are currently considered to be non-working members of the royal family.

The interview with Oprah Winfrey is the first time the couple has been outspoken since the royal split back last year.

The interview includes two different segments, a one-on-one interview with Winfrey and Markle, as well as a joint interview with Markle and Prince Harry. In both, Markle addresses false narratives she believes the Palace is displaying.

The interview reached over 17.1 million viewers in the United States and more than 12 million viewers watched the United Kingdom transmission.

The part of the interview that shocked the nation was the couple’s claims of racism and lack of support in the royal family.

Markle added that the lasting maltreatment drove her to have suicidal thoughts.

Markle expressed her experience, saying that while she was pregnant with her current son Archie, a member of the royal family had “concerns ... about how dark his skin might be.”

She also explained her struggle with mental illness, which was claimed to have been disregarded by the royals. She believes her struggle was ignored because she would bring shame and negative attention to the family.

Following the interview, Buckingham Palace delivered a statement, announcing that the “whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan” but that “some

SCREENSHOT FROM CBS

The royal couple discuss their experience at the palace during the interview with Oprah Winfrey. recollections may vary.”

Queen Elizabeth stated that the royal family is planning to address allegations of racism within Buckingham Palace. She also added that “Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

Prince William has declared that the royals are “not a racist family.”

He also adds that he has not spoken to his brother, but plans to soon.

As for Prince Charles, he continued with his royal engagements following the interview, refusing to answer questions, as he visited a vaccination clinic in London.

According to British media reports, the Palace is said to be holding

“crisis talks,” particularly with the senior royals.

These urgent discussions are said to be over how to limit the fallout and backlash from the interview.

Markle also confirmed their reasoning for leaving after rumors surfaced. She touched on the pressures of royal life, as well as the malevolence from the tabloid press. She

believed the palace had failed to defend them.

It will be interesting to see if Meghan and Harry will ever reconcile with the royals, as they have a lot of healing ahead of them. Exposing the most famous royals in power as racist and proprietors of cruelty leads many to wonder how the issue will be settled.

South Korean boy band BTS makes history at the Grammys

BTS perform their song “Dynamite” at the 2021 Grammys.

by Kaitlyn Lopez Sports Editor

On March 14, BTS became the first South Korean act to perform at the 63rd Grammy Awards. It is the K-Pop group’s first time performing a solo stage as well as being nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song “Dynamite” that debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

“BTS is very talented and I thought it was great that they were recognized for it,” said senior Alyssa Enriquez.

“I was surprised that they didn’t win the award considering how many records ‘Dynamite’ broke and how successful they’ve been internationally.”

BTS’ Grammy loss left many fans disappointed as the group truly did deserve the award. The members even got dressed at 2 a.m. to attend virtually, despite the time difference from South Korea, only to receive a loss.

The Grammys were claiming BTS were up next throughout the show,

only to leave them for the last performance knowing they were one of the most anticipated acts of the night to gain more viewers.

But, it did not work, as according to Variety, the show accumulated 8.8 million viewers, becoming the least watched telecast in history.

BTS’ loss added to the discussion of the stigma of racism in which the Grammys fails to recognize artists of color. BTS, The Weeknd, Jhené Aiko, Doja Cat, and more artists of color were snubbed as

they had significant cultural impacts in 2020 with their achievements gone unrecognized and swept under the rug.

The Grammys claim to have cultural representation in their nominations, but their selective processes have a theme of awarding primarily white artists.

“I’m really proud of BTS for getting to be so successful and influential while maintaining the quality of their music and performances. Including their performance at the Gram-

PHOTO COURTESY OF @RECORDINGACADEMY

mys, which was amazing,” said senior Sarah Simmonds.

“While I personally think they should’ve been nominated for more awards for their music in Korean and won the award they were nominated in, it’s still such an achievement for them to have been nominated.”

BTS still made history at the Grammys, despite the outcome, for being the first Korean act to perform and be nominated.

The media primarily only had Western

artists attend American award shows up until BTS changed the game for the music industry.

They are prime examples of how the art and beauty of music is still able to be received despite all barriers, including language.

Now the future is brighter for all non-American and artists of color alike. BTS is a huge inspiration as they have paved the way in opening up more opportunities for Korean artists throughout the world.

ARTS & LIFE page 13 Review: “Boogie” examines Chinese-American identity and hoop dreams

by Victoria Bartels Arts & Life Editor

“Boogie” was released as of March 5, 2021 and is already receiving much attention. The coming-of-age drama, directed

by Eddie Huang, draws in the younger generation with cast members like Pop smoke, Dave East, Charlamagne tha God, Taylour Paige, and more.

Huang, who also plays Boogie’s uncle, created this movie as an accurate and raw demonstration of the tensions in the second-generation Asian American experience. There is a consistant mention of ancestry and the idea that protagonist Boogie’s mission goes beyond himself, as he says it is about representation for his people and giving them a sense of pride after a history of discrimination.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Alfred “Boogie” Chin faces the burden of never meeting his parents expectations.

He is pulled back and forth between getting a full ride scholarship to a Division 1 school for basketball in order to play for the NBA and his own emotional well-being. When an opportunity

arises that could help get Boogie’s father out of jail, but may risk his own future, he decides what is the more important path to follow.

In past interviews Huang described the dynamic between the domineering mother (Pamelyn Chee) and hustler father (Perry Yung) as similar to his own upbringing.

The film itself can be a bit slow at times and not all of the parts go together smoothly, but it is not a film that fits into the typical box of an inspirational immigrant story either. Thus the message of juggling young love, a strong disciplinarian mother, and the passion for basketball overrides the minor cinematic inconsistencies.

A sense of realistic misogyny and racial dynamic remains prevalent, as the only way to be the best player in New York City is to beat his African American rival Monk, played by the late rapper Pop Smoke.

And to make matters worse, Boogie’s girlfriend is of course found to have a history with Monk.

While writing this film, Huang knew he wanted an Asian American lead “who [also] interacted with

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES

Taylor Takahashi plays Boogie (center left) and Pop Smoke play Monk (center right).

Black culture, Latino culture, and hip-hop culture”, he said in an interview with the New York Post.

However, upon casting there was no candidate that he felt truly aligned with his expectations. In 2018 during the last months of finishing the script, Huang was playing with his recreational basketball league when he came across newcomer Taylor Takahashi, a per-

sonal trainer and yakitori chef at the time who Huang said was one of the best Asian-American basketball players he had ever seen.

Even with no prior acting or film experience the two clicked so well that Huang eventually casted Takahashi for the star role of Boogie after initially hiring him as his assistant.

Huang described Takahashi as the spitting image of everything he wanted the

character to be.

When it came to casting the star’s rival, Monk, Huang faced a similar dilemma. At the last second he made ties with Pop Smoke and offered him the role after learning about his history of playing basketball.

All in all, the film is refreshing and in several aspects painfully relatable.

Huang’s angle with “Boogie” is to show the side of

Asian-American culture and lifestyle that is not all pretty and punchlines generally depicted in minority centered screenplays. This work is not made to please or appeal to white audiences. In contrast to Huang’s most notable work “Fresh off The Boat,” making mistakes and redeeming one’s self as well as finding one’s own path are the most important takeaways from “Boogie’s” narrative.

Review: Filoli Gardens

Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

by Emma Callicott Staff Writer

by Amelia Kyle Editor in Chief

The Filoli gardens and house are a historical site in San Mateo County. The infamous victorian house on the property was originally built in 1917 and has since been donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Bourn family was the first to occupy it.

They first built their wealth running multiple businesses during the California gold rush. The most profitable of those businesses was the Empire Gold Mine.

William Bourn and his wife commissioned architect Willis Polk to design the house. William bourn was the original creator of the name Filoli. The name followed his personal motto: “Fight for a just cause; Love you fellow man; Live a good life.”

The second and only other family to own Filoli was the Roth family, who purchased the property after the death of the Bourn’s in 1937. The Roth family’s wealth came from the Matson Navigation Company. They were the owners of the house and garden up until they donated it for recreational purposes in 1975.

The garden has many different types of

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Catalyst recommends “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn,” a 1943 novel by American author Betty Smith.

The novel’s protagonist is Francie Nolan, the daughter of two first-generation Americans living in poverty in Brooklyn, New York.

The plot follows Francie as she blossoms from being a carefree child to learning how to balance her education and supporting her family as a teenager.

The novel is heavily based on Smith’s own childhood experiences growing up in Brooklyn in the 1910s. Francie’s perspectives are deeply personal to the author, and they translate clearly to the reader through the sheer amount of detail used to describe each character, setting, and object. The majority of the story is told through the thoughts of both Francie and her mother, Katie, who constantly worries about her children’s future.

Although it takes place over a century ago, many of the novel’s themes are still relevant today. It addresses the pressures of first and second-generation Americans to thrive and achieve the ideal “Amer-

EMMA CALLICOTT/THE CATALYST

The gardens bloom in the spring. flowers and plants. Every season a different array of flowers blooms. During the summer some of the favorite blooms are Roses, Delphiniums, and Hydrangeas.

During the fall seasons Sunflowers and Cosmos are some of the most popular. The winter blooms are the Camellias and Japanese maples. The spring favorites are Daffodils, Tulips, and Bleeding hearts.

Each general admission entry ticket costs $25 for adults and $15 for kids under 17.

The Filoli gardens are quite a long way down a private road. Once you arrive in the parking lot you are able to wait in a line to check in. After being let into the property the

first thing to catch your eye is the house. In the house there are still many original decorations, fixtures, and furniture. All of the 56 rooms have some sort of history behind them.

Seeing all of the old paintings and books in the library is an amazing experience. The kitchen is filled with all of the foods that the families would have eaten and many cool features to make you feel as though you are in a working kitchen.

The gardens stretch across the side and back of the house. There are four main parts of the garden, including the pool.

A genuine experience, it is beautiful with many things you can learn your visit.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHER

The cover of the novel’s 75th anniversary edition. ican Dream.” The novel highlights issues like the struggles of a young woman in the workforce, sexual assault, losing a loved one, and breaking through gender roles. It also includes more lighthearted events that are common in the life of a teenage girl, such as first love, moving on from heartbreak, and getting into college.

While there are many different stories told and characters featured throughout the book, none

of them feel rushed or outof-place. The development of each main character is truly excellent, as none of them are nearly the same at the end of the novel as they are at the beginning.

“A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” is an astonishing novel that leaves the reader feeling inspired and optimistic for the future. While it is an excellent read at any time of the year, it is especially relevant to Women’s History Month occurring right now in March.

page 14

SPORTS

Featured Athletes

Dominique Gradidge, ‘21

Lacrosse

Casey Peterson, ‘23 Tennis

The Catalyst (TC): When did practices or tryouts start and what days have they been?

Dominique Gradidge (DG): Before, season practices began at the beginning of February, and then, this week we’ve been doing tryouts Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, we have practice on Friday. So, our practice schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 1:30 to 3:00.

The Catalyst (TC): What was your reaction to hearing that the tennis team would finally have a season despite the pandemic?

Casey Peterson (CP): Before I got excited or anything, I wanted to make sure it was legit because the season kept getting moved back. I was surprised in a good way.

TC: Where have the practices and tryouts been held?

DG: So, we haven’t been able to use the field at school, so we’ve been practicing at the Belmont Sports Complex. They have a field that we’ve been practicing at, which is really nice.

TC: How is your experience at practices different with the new COVID-19 protocols?

CP: We [have to] wear masks all the time, and we get our temperature checked before practices through the NDB app. My mom also can’t watch the matches [in person] now. Another thing this season was that we were struggling to find courts because CSM isn’t open. So, for tryouts they had two groups where one group practices before the other group.

TC: What are the required safety practices and protocols for COVID? DG: We’ve been having our masks on the whole practice, and we’ve been keeping six feet distance.

TC: Have there been any challenges, maybe because of the required protocols or in general?

DG: I don’t think so. But, it’s just been hard to like, cope with maintaining six feet, while trying to still play and defend each other, I guess. So, trying to keep your distance while playing.

TC: How are you feeling being able to do lacrosse?

DG: For me and, I think, the rest of the team speaking on [their] behalf, I think we’ve all enjoyed it because it’s been something to see each other and then interact with each other. So, it’s been nice during this pandemic to, one, be able to do a sport and, two, to see each other.

TC: How have playing matches against other schools changed due to the pandemic?

CP: I had a match yesterday and it was going well. But, it was really cold and my hands were freezing, so I couldn’t grip all the way. Then, we’re halfway through – it’s four to four score – and it starts pouring rain. We couldn’t finish the game at all. But, what’s different is that, from now on, we can’t shake hands [at the beginning of the game], and each side only gets two balls to serve with.

TC: Are there any upcoming games or events, if you know?

DG: On Saturday, we have a scrimmage against BHS, which is our first scrimmage. I think it’s at 2:00, and then we still have a schedule of games coming up, but Saturday’s our first scrimmage.

TC: What are your hopes for the new tennis season?

CP: Probably that everyone just has a good time with it. I guess play like an actual season, even if it is just like a practice season and to just take from it what you will.

Rachel Schonfeld, ‘21 Swim

The Catalyst (TC): When are swim practices starting this season?

Rachel Schonfeld (RS): They started last week, so we had our first practice Monday, and then we also do Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, we practice at Serra from 6:00 to 7:30, which is mixed because the water polo boys don’t put the lane lines back in the pool, so we don’t have lane lines. But, yeah, I think from my understanding, it’s Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday for practices.

TC: Are there any safety measures put in place for practices or needed testing or anything?

RS: Yeah, so obviously you need to get COVID tested through Notre Dame. We wear our masks on deck, and then it’s one person per lane. Sometimes, I think in the Notre Dame pool, we can have two people in a lane, but they split the lane so one person swims on the right side [and] one person swims on the left side, and they start from opposite ends. But, the nice thing about swimming is that you’re in a chlorinated environment, and chlorine prevents the coronavirus from being able to infect new hosts.

TC: How are you feeling about being able to swim?

RS: For Notre Dame, I’m excited. I don’t know anything about a competition, [but] I think our first competition is on the 27th at Sacred Heart, and I don’t know how that’s gonna go. Most people on the team haven’t been able to swim at all. So, we don’t have super high expectations. But, I’m just excited to be back with girls and to be with Ms. Connolly, too.

Text by Kaitlyn Lopez and Anna Sanguinetti | Photos courtesy of Lani Lopez and NDB/Prestige Portraits

Golf team gets back in the swing of things

by Lynne Pan Staff Writer

The NDB golf season finally began in late February. Usually, the season would start at the beginning of the school year, but it was pushed back until spring due to COVID-19.

The team has practice as usual from Monday to Thursday, but the times have changed since there is no van provided. Many members are coming from different areas due to the school’s hybrid model.

“I played volleyball freshman and sophomore year, and I played lacrosse all three years so far. But, when it got to with COVID, all the sports were happening at the same time, so I couldn’t play lacrosse and volleyball together, because you can only play one team sport and one individual,” said junior Ali Lewis.

“I’ve always kind of wanted to play golf, but it’s just at the same time as volleyball. So when this happened, I was able to play golf and lacrosse so it was just, it worked out that way.”

During practice,

the golf team works on the normal activities, such as chipping, driving, and padding. Along with the new COVID-19 protocols, students are required to always wear masks, maintain six feet apart, and to play with their own golf balls.

“It’s been kind of hard missing all of the sports and everything that we would have had at the beginning of the year,” said junior Emma Boyd. “But the fact that we were able to kind of get it in is really nice.”

This year, there are three new members joining the team as Boyd became the team captain for the first time as this is her third year being on the team.

“I’m pretty excited, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to maybe plan something for the team that I can maybe do a team bonding thing for golf or something like that,” said Boyd.

“I am kind of feeling a little nervous, because I know COVID is kind of throwing everything off.

But other than that, I’m feeling pretty good about it.”

The difference this

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA BOYD

Golfers Savvy Sweet, Hannah Nebres and Vicki Samaras practice driving at Mariners Point golf course. year for the new season is that the golf course is more crowded since both the girl and boy teams are playing at the same time. There are also more adults playing at Mariner’s course, where the team practices, due to being one of the first golf courses to open up during the pandemic.

“[I am feeling] Definitely better than I was last year and I had a season of experience. I want to work on just my mental game since I can get really intimidated under pressure when playing,” said sophomore Hannah Nebres.

“So I want to work on just being more

confident and trusting myself that I’m going to play the best that I can.”

Now, the season has already started for about a month now. The team had their first match with Harker last week at Moffett Field.

“It was great, Harker is a really good team,

so it was a little intimidating as our first match, but it was also kind of nice... and they were really sweet,” said Lewis. “It was nice to play with other people and like to see them. It was my first match ever so that was a little scary but I’m glad that I did it, it was a lot of fun.”

SPORTS

page 15

Spirit squad to cheer at Serra HS football game on April 3

From the archives: The NDB Spirit Squad pose at last season’s Serra HS homecoming game.

by Jennifer Huang Photo Editor Although the NDB Competitive Cheer season has ended, the Spirit Squad has been invited to cheer at one of Serra’s varsity football games. The game will be on Saturday, April 3 at 1:00 PM on the Serra HS football field, against St. Francis HS.

Due to the pan-

demic, there will be no spectators in the stands. Cheering can be nerve-wracking with fans in the bleachers.

Those who are cheering for their first time can make some anxious.

“I’m a little nervous to be cheering,” said freshman Lucy Wood. “I think it’ll be a little less nerve-wracking, because there aren’t going to be as many people there than it

would have been if parents of athletes were allowed to come.”

The members of the squad who have cheered before are more excited to be back. The Spirit Squad has been working hard on practicing sideline cheers on and off, since August.

“My first time was the Homecoming, which was almost, I think more than a year ago now,” said

sophomore Ava Marinos.

“It’s kind of just refreshing and exciting to know that we get to just unify and come together,” she added. “And all of our hard work just kind of pays off now because we’ve been trying, we’ve been training a lot for this, and it’s nice that it’s all paying off finally.”

Being a senior is difficult with not having

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBSPIRIT

a season in their final moments of high school coming to a close. Although this season has not been like the previous years, the seniors have been looking forward to the opportunity to cheer for one last game.

“I’m feeling excited, but more cautious this time around as I don’t want to get my hopes too high in case of us being uninvited again,” said senior Ailish

Reed. “But, [I am] looking forward to my first and last game of senior year.”

Despite the uncertainty of being able to cheer at the game with last minute cancellations, the Spirit Squad was relieved to hear the news upon return. They are energized to be back together as a team by having the opportunity to cheer, despite the season being over.

How does the hybrid schedule affect your athletics schedule?

As San Mateo County moved into the less-restrictive orange tier, The Catalyst interviewed student athletes about returning to sports in the hybrid schedule.

Sofia Frisz, ‘23 Track and Field

Ali Lewis, ‘22 Golf

Mallery Moore, ‘24 Swim, Water Polo

Hadley Stevick, ‘21 Track and Field

“The good thing about practice is that it’s on-campus. So, for Monday when I’m at school, I can just stay 15 minutes later.

So, I’ll probably just go get changed in the bathroom, and then just go outside, because we are meeting on the front lawn.

I think the harder part of the schedule is going from Zoom to practice, because I don’t live that far, but our schedules are a little bit different.”

“We’ve only been in school for two weeks. It’s been a little fast-paced going straight from school to practice. I feel like with golf practices they don’t start until four o’clock, and then we get out of school at three. So, there’s that awkward point where I go to practice really early, or I try to rush home and get there really fast. So, it’s an adjustment, but it’s been pretty good so far.”

“I think it’s easier to just, if you have practiced right after school and you’re already at school, because I don’t have to get someone to drive me to school. Then, also home school so it just takes us time. For the practices that start closer after school, sometimes I’m a bit late if it’s like at 3:15, because it takes a while to drive there, so it’s not as late when it’s at school.”

“I have to get ready during the school day and make sure I’m really organized and prepared since I only have 20 minutes to get from my house to school, and on time to practice. It’s made it a little bit more challenging, but it’s nice to be able to practice at all. I’m okay with being flexible about it.

I’m only online until after spring break. I know other people having the time to get ready after school when they’re on campus.”

Text by Lynne Pan | Photos courtesy of Sofia Frisz, Ali Lewis, Mallery Moore, and Prestige Portraits

page 16

NEWS

Ralston Hall: Over a century of history in the mansion behind NDB’s backyard

A day in the life of a Tiger

Just some of the things that have happened to our readers over the past month...

JENNIFER HUANG / THE CATALYST

Sophomore Brooke Anderson spends time on some homework during lunch in the Father Downey Garden.

CLAIR SAPILEWSKI / THE CATALYST

Historic Ralston Hall sits on the hill behind the NDB campus.

by Clair Sapilewski Opinion Editor

After being at NDB for nearly three years, it was hard for me to miss the looming mansion seated between NDB and Notre Dame De Namur University (NDNU). Ralson Hall is a beautiful piece of architecture but was always a mystery to me until I decided to look a little closer at its history.

Ralston Hall was built in 1868 by William Ralston. To put the building’s age in perspective, Filoli, San Mateo’s historic mansion, was built in 1917, nearly 50 years later.

William Ralston was a wealthy businessman who made a fortune in San Francisco after founding the Bank of California. Ralston Hall was built as a summer home for him and his family. After he drowned in the San Francisco bay in 1875, his 55,360-square-foot mansion’s ownership moved down to his business partner, Senator William Sharon. Over the next decades, the property was passed through many different ownerships and purposes, from private residences to a girls’ finishing school.

At last, in 1923, the mansion was bought by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur after they moved their college from San Jose

to what would later become Belmont. From that point onward, the 80 room mansion served as a residence for the sisters and the heart of the University itself. In 1966, the mansion was recognized as a national historic landmark.

In 2012, the beloved Ralston Hall was declared a seismic hazard and closed to the public. A campaign to save Ralson Hall began. $5 million was needed, but with the help of many generous benefactors, the goal was reached in 2015.

Oddly enough, the building was not opened, and the seismic concerns were not addressed, even with the proper funding.

Years passed and the global pandemic hit.

With far fewer students attending, universities around the country were in dire need of funding, NDNU included. For this reason, the renovation project was never executed, and the university used the funds to keep itself running instead of reopening the mansion.

Tied to a university with a very real risk of closing due to a lack of funding, I worry that if NDNU goes under, so will Ralston Hall. This would be a tragedy to both the community as a whole and to the history of our state.

Filoli serves as a model for Ralston Hall.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTIGERS

English teacher Peggy Brady (also known as Margaret, Charlton, ‘67) adapts to hybrid instruction, teaching her class in the room and on Zoom.

JENNIFER HUANG / THE CATALYST

Sophomores Annabelle Huber and Sofia Frisz have a conversation under the rainy day tent during lunch.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RALSTONHALL.COM

Ralston Hall was built before NDB, NDNU, and Belmont even existed.

Filoli runs on annual funds and donations from visitors, coupled with money from weddings and daily tours. If Ralston Hall could once again become that beloved community building, it might be able to support itself without being tied to an institution like NDNU.

Ralston Hall is not only a breathtakingly beautiful location but a historically fascinating heart of Belmont. The building

that has entertained figures like Ulysses S Grant, Mark Twain, and Leland Stanford remains closed due to seismic concerns and a lack of funding for a small university. It seems almost an insult to the majesty of the building to be shut down for such trivial reasons. A landmark like this should be treated with utmost respect and be a high priority for California to save.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CASSIDY MORRIS

(From left to right) Sophmores Jennifer Huang, Annabelle Huber, Ariel Lucas, Sofia Frisz, Dayna Sockol and Melanie Castelli stop for a moment during the second week of Track and Field tryouts practice.

Visit TheNDBCatalyst.com for more stories and photos about the NDB community