The Catalyst, Volume 9, Issue 6: May 2023

The Class of 2023 says goodbye to NDB

by Molly Phan Editor in Chief

Since the fall of 2019, the Class of 2023 has overcome great challenges and has made significant contributions to NDB in areas such as academics, leadership and sisterhood. Most importantly, each member of the class has grown personally and as they prepare to graduate, they reflect on the past four years that have made them into the individuals they are today.

A few weeks into their first semester of freshman year, the Class of 2023 named themselves the Wildcats to fit their red class color, and almost instantly, they matched the school spirit of the other grades. They won their first Ding-Bat Rally, their second official spirit event at NDB, which was incredibly rare as the upperclassmen usually place the highest.

The Wildcats also exhibited strong passions for leadership from the very

beginning, as the freshman class council played a huge role in class bonding. Freshman leaders organized iconic events such as the Freshman Slumber Party, where students watched movies, played games and got to know each other.

“As freshmen, we were all very motivated to get to know one another and to express our love for Notre Dame during rallies and other events,” shared senior Sophia Rask, former freshman class council member. “We were definitely more spirited than girls in the older classes.”

Although the Class of 2023 started their time at NDB off strong, the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic dampened their spirits as they were forced to learn from behind computer screens until the end of their sophomore year. For over a year, students were deprived of everything that made NDB so special, like rallies, Aquacades and even spending time with classmates and teachers. For many seniors

today, it seems as though their underclassmen years were defined solely by the pandemic.

“COVID took away our opportunity to bond as a freshman class since we didn’t have events

in-person to get to know one another, but it made the rest of our time so much better because we were able to appreciate everything more,” said senior Lauren Nobleza.

The Wildcats re-

turned to campus their junior year optimistic and ready to make the best of their last two years at NDB. Many students pushed themselves academically, as a wide range of Advanced Placement courses

and electives became available to them.

“Junior year was definitely a turning point for me academically since I got to take classes like

See SENIORS | Page 10

Student body elects ASB officers for 2023-2024 year

by Editorial Staff

On Tuesday April 25, the Sharks, Monarchs and Dragons gathered in the Moore Pavillion in recognition of the annual Associate Student Body (ASB) elections. There were nine candidates for ASB for the 2023-2024 school year, all looking to replace the six

positions currently occupied by Amelia Ailanjian, Caitlynn Reynolds, Kassie Hickson, Lauren Fitzgerald, Sophia Rask and Zeina Zumot.

The candidates this year ranged from current class council members to others seeking leadership experience and more participation in their

school community. Juniors Annie Lester, Caitlin Degnan, Helena Morell, Francesca Arbelaez, Julia Oliveira-Killmon, Mallory Moore, Isabella Davis, Katherine Johnson and Savannah Sweet all vyed for a spot, with the respective first six securing spots on the governing body. Each candidate was asked to

make a short speech at the election event. Promises of spirit events, sisterhood celebration, and heightened connection between students and staffulty filled speeches. Each verbal presentation was accompanied by several days of social media advertising. Candidates designed graphics filled with pictures participating in sports, rallies, and leadership as well as memorable and often punny slogans. Overall, the message conveyed by each candidate was “I am involved, I am approachable, and I am ready to be on ASB.”

Following speeches and filled with campaign promises of school spirit and visions for events, the three returning classes returned to homerooms to vote on their top candidates via a school-wide Google Form. Those who do not come out on top typically seek class council positions, which were later elected by the individual returning classes.

“I am most excited to meet the incoming freshman class and to in-

troduce them to the NDB spirit,” said Morell. “I think one of the ideas I feel most passionate about is getting more girls involved in Aquacades. Everyone should feel like they have a place and a role in such an amazing event.”

The roles of President, Vice President, Communications Director, Activities Director, Spirit Director and Athletics Director will be assigned by Director of Student Life and Leadership Alisia Bergholm, following an interview with each of the incoming members. Additionally, the current members play a part in selecting roles, having been the ones to know the demands of each role most personally.

Oftentimes, women from the two bodies are friends prior to the election and can attest to each others’ qualities and strengths. The results of the selection of roles will be announced to the student body at Class Day on June 2 where they will take their oath of office. While each position has specific responsibili-

ties, the six members share their tasks evenly with each other to sustain a group-effort mentality.

“I am so excited for the new ASB,” said Bergholm. “It’s always nice to get a new group of girls and I know that they are great.”

ASB is instrumental in the day-to-day and overall functions of the school. Announcements, advisory emails and scheduling all come from this group of students. Nearly every single school event includes members of the body signing guests in, speaking and performing run-of-show activities, from Open House to student council meetings to Women’s Leadership series and more. Not to mention the time spent planning for spirit weeks and rallies, dances and the highly-anticipated Aquacades. Aquacades, the annual spring spirit event which has become synonymous with an NDB education and experience, is the result of months

MEGAN WORRY / THE CATALYST

PHOTO COURTESY OF NDB COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

The Wildcats showcased their spirit at their final Aquacades rally in April.

Newly elected ASB officers have plans for the community

From ASB | Page 1 of preparation from ASB. Between deciding themes, coordinating participants, running practices and creating their own massive backdrop and lengthy routine, the event is a yearlong task for the six members.

The work for the group has already begun, partnering with the 2022-2023 ASB to enable a smooth transition and brainstorm for the next year. Wildcats may notice a map which designates college choices for each

student displayed in the main hallway, which was put together by the incoming officers The two teams, incoming and outgoing, have collaborated already to prepare incoming members, pass on information and materials, coordinate plans for Class Day, and generally bond. Filled with student council members, athletes and spirit leaders, the 20232024 ASB comes prepared to fulfill their duties and make the most of their tenure.

“I’m kind of sad to be leaving but I’m excited to see what the new ASB can

do,” said 2022-2023 Spirit Director Zumot. “This group of girls will work very well with each other … I’m excited to see what they can do.”

The six incoming members of ASB will take their oath of office and be formally sworn in on June 2 at the annual Class Day ceremony. This summer, the new ASB officers will dedicate a significant amount of time discussing ideas and plans for the next year, which will be essential to upholding a successful and spirited school year.

Sarah Boragno ‘02 to become English department chair

by Kate Davidson News Co-Editor

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, English teacher Sarah Boragno ‘02 will serve as NDB’s new English department chair.

Boragno has been a teacher for 15 years. She has worked as an English teacher at high schools across the Bay Area, including Mercy HS, where she served as the English department chair. Her extensive experience and passion for English makes her strongly qualified to lead NDB’s department.

“In my 15 years of

teaching, I’ve seen how education is always changing and progressing and that we always need to be innovative,” said Boragno.

When asked what NDB students could expect from her leadership, Boragno said, “I’m excited to continue what the English department already has in terms of a solid foundation, then add a little bit of progression and innovation when it comes to how education is always changing.”

In a changing world, Boragno recognizes the need to diversify the curriculum. With a focus on incorporating more women’s voices and focusing

more on female empowerment, she aims to expand and update the curriculum to develop students’ ability to grasp and learn from diverse perspectives.

“I think the job of the department chair is to always make sure that the book list is not just relevant, but also current enough to make sure that the students are able to grab, grasp and adapt and learn from it as well,” said Boragno.

In addition to expanding the curriculum, Boragno will strive to help students understand how to communicate, craft an argument tailored to a specific audience, and get a point

across in a respectful, academic manner.

The appointment of Boragno as department chair reflects NDB’s desire to provide the community with excellent leadership and promote innovation in education. The community is eager to witness the positive changes she will bring to the English Department.

The current chair, Robert Rojas, will step down at the end of the school year in order to focus more of his time and energy on rebuilding Tiger TV, NDB’s broadcast journalism news show.

Tiger TV returns: Production to restart in the fall

by Eva Nichter News Co-Editor

Tiger TV will return for the 2023-2024 academic year at NDB through the journalism program.

Tiger TV was NDB’s broadcast journalism program that ran from the early 2000s through the 2019-2020 school year. Students in the class learned about the mechanisms and production of broadcast journalism, and would produce weekly videos covering news and hot topics around the school community.

The program was offered through NDB’s Video Production elective and went through many changes under different teachers during its time at NDB. Tiger TV was started in the early 2000s by former NDB teacher Frank Ryerson, who had fundamental involvement in NDB’s Journalism Program and the origins of The Catalyst as well.

Ryerson left the school in 2012 and the Tiger TV program was passed through many succeeding teachers in the following seven to eight years. During the program’s final years, the Video Produc-

tion class was offered as a Tri-School class to Serra HS and Mercy HS students, but the name “Tiger TV” was still maintained.

The class stopped production of Tiger TV in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which moved all NDB classes online for the majority of the 20202021 school year. Although classes have been fully in-person for almost two

years, the program was never reinstated through the Video Production class.

Journalism Advisor Robert Rojas had a strong interest in bringing Tiger TV back to NDB and incorporating the class into his journalism program under The Catalyst, the student newspaper of NDB. Incorporating the broadcast and television aspects of journalism with the writ-

ing aspects would allow students who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism to obtain a well-rounded understanding of the field.

“Tiger TV will bring in broadcast journalism experience to the overall [journalism] program and will broaden the curriculum to give students experience in both print, online and broadcast journalism,”

said Rojas. “[It will also] give us an opportunity to tell more breaking news stories or more news-inbrief stories – things that happen on a daily basis and may or may not be relevant within two to three days.”

Tiger TV will be incorporated into the existing Journalism classes at NDB, which can be taken as English electives and are offered from Journalism I

through IV. Students who are interested in participating in Tiger TV will need to be enrolled in one of the Journalism classes offered or must be an actively-participating member of the Journalism club.

Mia Muzzi, the Editor in Chief of The Catalyst for the 2023-2024 school year, will be taking on new duties with the incorporation of Tiger TV into the class curriculum. In addition to overseeing the timely production of a monthly newspaper, both print and online, she will also be responsible for overseeing the production of weekly to bi-weekly Tiger TV videos.

“I am really looking forward to bringing Tiger TV back to NDB. I hope that it helps us better engage with the NDB community and encourages students to join the journalism program,” said Muzzi.

While Rojas would be the advisor for Tiger TV as well, History teacher Jonathan Tomczak and Video Production Teacher Mark Thiesen will assist in the program as well, providing equipment and additional instruction for the students.

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

May 19, the Journalism class broadcast a sample newscast for the community.

KATE DAVIDSON / THE CATALYST

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

ASB created the Class of 2023 post-NDB plans map on the bulletin board.

Meredith Essalat reflects on her first year as head of school

by Molly Phan Editor in Chief

In the summer of 2022, Meredith Essalat, ‘98, returned to her alma mater as head of school. As a graduate of NDB, a former teacher, a published writer and a mother, Esslat had many goals for the NDB community upon her arrival. As her first year as head of school comes to an end, Essalat reflects on her journey so far and shares what she hopes for the future of NDB.

Essalat approached her first year with a positive attitude and an overall goal to be especially involved in student life. She hoped to spend time in classrooms and interact with students at lunch time and during breaks, all in effort to build community.

“I came into this so excited for the new challenge in the new environment. And I’ve loved it so much,” said Essalat. “I love what I do, because I build relationships with students and with my team, so that is always going to be a goal for me.”

Essalat’s role as head of school this year has also given her the opportunity to grow as an administrator, as she has faced some challenges and learned valuable lessons

from them. One of those challenges is her busy schedule, which has interfered with her plans to interact with students and staffulty during lunch and other free periods.

“The problem is my schedule. I loved when I got to come out at lunch at the beginning of the year, but I think the deeper I’ve gotten into the job, the more there’s been to do and so, some things have had to give a bit,” she explained.

In addition, the transition into a completely new environment was an obstacle Essalat had to overcome this year. As an alumna, she may have been familiar with NDB’s physical characteristics, but she had not known the population of students and staffulty well prior to this year.

“I had forgotten what it’s like to be new,” Essalat said. “So I’ve really learned that it’s okay to lean into asking questions and asking for help, like saying that I need to think on something and come back to it versus feeling like in that moment, I have to have the right answer at every turn.”

After a year of growth and new beginnings, Essalat looks forward to the years to come, where she can implement all that she has learned so

far.

“I am excited now that I have a year under my belt, to look at the calendar and to find ways to amplify the past and ways to get alumnae back and engaged with our current students,” she said. “I am excited to keep collaborating with [Director of Student Life

and Leadership] Ms. Bergholm on other activities that we can do.”

For Essalat, being back in the NDB environment has opened her eyes to the fact that high school is an important time of growth, but progresses quickly. She advises her students to take advantage

of all the opportunities on campus so they do not graduate feeling like they have missed out on experiences.

Essalat’s dedication to community building has certainly proven to enhance the quality of student life on campus. Her positive attitude and friend-

ly personality radiates through campus, creating an environment of support for all students and staffulty.

“I am just continuing to build the community and keep everybody having fun and feeling excited to come to school every day.”

ASL IV Honors experiences “Deaf for a Day” project

by Kate Davidson & Eva Nichter News Co-Editors

On Thursday, May 4, students in ASL IV Honors completed their final project, being “Deaf for a Day.”

From waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, the eleven seniors in the class wore a pair of earplugs for the entire day, simulating the typical daily experiences of an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. To

successfully complete the project, the students had to wear earplugs and learn how to communicate with their families and teachers in ways other than oral conversation.

ASL IV Honors teacher, Leianne Kilmartin, completed this project when she was in high school, and she found the experience to be very impactful and eye-opening. She wanted her students to also complete this project and simulate the experiences of a deaf high school stu-

dent, in order to recognize how one must overcome daily language barriers in order to communicate with others. She hoped that the project would instill a deep sense of empathy in her students as they had to navigate communication as someone who is deaf or hard-of-hearing would.

“As much as you can read and talk about different cultures, it’s just entirely different to put yourself in their shoes,” said Kilmartin, discussing the significance of her students

completing this project. “It gives the students a little bit more perspective, walking in the shoes of a deaf or hard-of-hearing person for a day.”

The project posed challenges for the class of seniors, as so much of high school culture revolves around verbal communication and socialization. Students had to find ways to communicate with teachers during class and socialize with friends at lunch even though they had a weakened sense of hearing.

“The hardest part of doing the project at school was not being able to talk to my friends,” said senior Abbi Edelhart. “I could tell they would get frustrated trying to talk to me because I had to act as if I couldn’t hear and couldn’t talk.”

Students taking AP exams and participating in AP test prep were allowed to remove their ear plugs for that given time period, but had to resume participation in the project as soon as their AP assignment or test was completed.

Despite the challenges that the project posed throughout the course of the school day, the students were eager to successfully complete the day because of the project’s significance in appreciating deaf culture. The final allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of deaf or hardof-hearing individuals.

“I gained a sense of appreciation for the deaf community from this project,” said Edelhart. “I noticed myself feeling very frustrated and isolated throughout the experience so I can only imagine what the deaf community faces

throughout each day. As a hearing person, I need to ensure I am being inclusive and I will definitely work on including those around me in conversations.”

“I definitely gained a new understanding around the deaf community and subtle things in our society that make it harder for the deaf community on a daily basis,” said senior Emma Rasmussen. “It gave me a new sense of empathy and compassion and while my experience is nowhere near the experience of an actual deaf person, I’m very happy I did it to gain that perspective. This experience has motivated me to want to advocate more for accessibility not only in our school, but in our community.”

The second part of the student’s final project is a written report and reflection, detailing their experiences and the challenges that they might have faced throughout the day with reduced hearing. Kilmartin said that the students had time in class to discuss, but she looks forward to reading about each student’s individual experiences while completing the project.

KATE DAVIDSON / THE CATALYST

Students in ASL IV Honors reflect on their final project, “Deaf for a Day.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NDB COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING Head of School Meredith Essalat spent the year getting to know the NDB community.

Letter from the Editor in Chief: Molly Phan says farewell to The Catalyst

As I complete my twelfth and final issue of The Catalyst, it has finally hit me that my time with this incredible student newspaper is officially over.

My last two years at NDB have been an unforgettable experience, and I owe it all to The Catalyst. This small publication has played such a significant role in the person I am today, as I graduate from high school and transition into college.

Leading this newspaper has increased my love for writing, graphic design and photography and has allowed me to develop my social media and marketing skills. More importantly though, it has taught me how to effectively communicate, connect with an audience and to lead with energy and passion.

In the past two years, I have seen our work highlight important school issues and call for change. I have learned that there is nothing more fulfilling than having a classmate or fellow student express their gratitude for an issue that I addressed in the paper, and that alone is one of the many reasons for my belief in the power of the media, especially within a school community.

My experience with journalism throughout high school has taught me to read and write with a purpose. I have learned to love communicating my feelings, ideas and opinions to the world through words. The Catalyst has given me the opportunity to use my voice to stand up for what I believe in, which is how I discovered that leadership and advocacy are a crucial part of my identity. For that, I will be forever grateful.

I am very excited to be attending the University of Southern California in the fall where I will be studying journalism in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. There, I look forward to accessing their extensive resources to enhance my multimedia reporting and content creation skills, as well as contributing to their several publications and media outlets. The best part about being a journalist is the ability to spark change, and from my experience on The Catalyst, I know that I am prepared to make a true impact on the dynamic community at USC.

I am incredibly thankful for this year’s hardworking staff for their creativity and dedication to improving our print and digital me-

dia platforms. And to the senior staff, I wish you all the best of luck in your college journeys.

Thank you to Robert Rojas, our dedicated advisor, for the opportunity to have creative freedom over our newspaper and for helping me execute my ideas. You have played an instrumental role in my development as a writer.

To our former Editor in Chief, Peyton Daley, thank you for trusting me with this publication and for giving me such an amazing opportunity to serve the NDB community. Thank you so much to my Managing Editor, Mia Muzzi, who will assume the role of Editor in Chief next year. There is no one else who I would have wanted by my side throughout this journey. I have so much confidence in you, and I know you will be an amazing leader.

Finally, to the NDB community, thank you for your readership, your support and your engagement with our staff, and I hope that you enjoyed each one of our issues this year.

NDB should exempt seniors with A’s from spring finals

Dayna Sockol Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

At Mercy HS and Serra HS, it is as simple as this: if you earn an A in a class as a senior, you don’t have to take the spring final exam. While NDB doesn’t have to align all of its academic policies with TriSchool, on this issue, it should.

It doesn’t seem right that NDB seniors are not given this opportunity, while two of the three schools are. Although NDB is a college preparatory institution, which comes with added expectations of academic rigor, so are Serra and Mercy. NDB collaborates with these schools

throughout the year and has a similar mission, and yet they have this special rule and we don’t.

Being required to take a final, even if we are performing well in a subject, puts added pressure on seniors, who are occupied with graduation responsibilities and already feel like we have one foot out the door.

“If [we have] an A in a class, [we] have to worry about our grade possibly dropping,” said senior Hailey Hobson. “Additionally, we already have a lot on our plates because finals are at the end of our senior

year.”

For classes where a student has a B or lower, the final can be a chance to raise their grade, yet in subjects for which they have an A, it poses a daunting threat of causing their grade to drop. Even if just a few classes followed this policy, the tension for seniors throughout the finals season would decrease.

A change to the finals policy has been discussed by the curriculum council, a leadership team consisting of administrators and staffulty, but ultimately has been ruled against.

“There are multiple components for my reasoning as to why we do not have this option for seniors,” said Associate Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction Jolanda Breazeale. “It has been revisited multiple time, [but] because of all the potential

GENEVIEVE KLEIN / THE CATALYST

areas of confusion, there would need to be very clear instructions for this special privilege for seniors that everyone could embrace and understand. I am willing to continue the conversation to move this option forward. However, I am invested in finding a solution that will address as many concerns as possible while still supporting our curriculum.” If clear boundaries and rules were set, I’m sure

all seniors would be willing to comply and would be grateful for the opportunity. Conversations about implementing this policy should continue for next year. Seniors who have attained the highest letter grade for a class should be excused from the final. Being held to the same standards as these other two schools would be very beneficial and bring much relief for seniors from the burden of finals.

Memorial Day: A tribute to those who served

Ava Marinos Opinion Co-Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Memorial Day, observed in the United States on the last Monday of May every year, serves as a day for American citizens to take time and reflect on the various sacrifices that soldiers have made to promise us a better future. Rather than just seeing it as a day off from school, people should use this day to look back and remember the history of our country, and understand the several contributions the military has made.

To commemorate Memorial Day, there are a variety of ways to keep the

lives of America’s soldiers close in our minds and in our hearts. One of my favorite ways to celebrate the contributions of soldiers is to visit the USS Hornet Museum. There, World War II artifacts and living veterans with memories of those who have passed away help to keep the memory of honorable soldiers alive. Without engaging in this remembrance, the meaning of Memorial Day fades. Just recently, Ken Potts, one of the last remaining survivors of a Pearl Harbor warship sinking, died at age 102. 101-year-

old Lou Canter is now the only other remaining survivor from the ship, called the USS Arizona. Although this generation is leaving us, their long-lasting impact shouldn’t, which is why keeping the history of WWII alive is crucial to understanding their acts of bravery.

According to a bar graph developed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the surviving WWII veterans for 2024 are estimated to be less than 2,000. This is an alarming decrease in the population. We should embrace American history not just for the fact-based education, but to kindle a personal connection to the subject through humanizing the millions of veterans who have served our country.

While this era of people is passing on as time

progresses, we cannot forget the lasting impact fallen soldiers have made on our nation. Memorial Day continues to be a time set aside to commemorate the lives lost due to war, and celebrate the veterans who live on today, honoring all these individuals’ their selflessness during a time of great uncertainty. Remember that

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Molly Phan

MANAGING EDITOR

Mia Muzzi

NEWS CO-EDITORS

Eva Nichter

Kate Davidson

OPINION CO-EDITORS

Ava Marinos

Genevieve Klein

ARTS & LIFE CO-EDITORS

Francesca Arbelaez

Hannah Nebres

SPORTS EDITOR

Ashley Strain

PHOTO EDITOR

Megan Worry

GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR

Gianna Shaughnessy

STAFF WRITERS

Lauren Fitzgerald

Annette Henderson

Kayla Hollister

Dayna Sockol

Ashley Turner

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

each time you sing the National Anthem, take school off for Memorial Day, or visit a war museum, you are not passively remembering the war effort or misrepresenting the meaning of the day, but rather actively paying homage to their sacrifice.

The college process is certainly worse than it seems

Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

It goes without saying that applying to colleges is an arduous process. Essays, letters of recommendation, deciding where to apply all make the task daunting. NDB students are lucky to have a large support system at school between teachers and counselors. Nonetheless, for those approaching the demanding era of applications, it is important to provide caution that the process is much more difficult than it appears.

To put one’s en-

tire life on paper is an impossible task. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is asked of students. They must capture their happiest moments, greatest successes and most complex hardships in essays and supplemental questions. Sometimes, they are asked to look back to the darkest point in their lives and say what good they did with those times, a difficult task for teenagers.

Aside from the emotional difficulties of the process, it is easy to

underestimate the sheer amount of time each application requires, then multiplied by an average 10 to 15 schools. While the Common Application, UC Application and Questbridge system work to consolidate resources by putting materials in one place, oftentimes, havinf to write plentiful supplemental essays and selecting which information to provide to which school slow down the process significantly, making college applications comparable in time consumption to an entire additional AP or honors course. This task becomes even more difficult when marginalizing life circumstances intensify struggles. Every admissions officer doesn’t need to relate to every experience of the

applicants they evaluate, but when students are at a systemic disadvantage on the basis of their marginalized identities, readers fall short. In 2022, the National Association of College Admission and Counseling determined that a staggering 71 percent of admissions counselors are white. Students of color are not alone in their disadvantage. Pricey private counselors and standardized test services enlarge the gap between those who can and can’t afford support. These factors create an atmosphere in which a student’s fate seems to be predetermined. There is hope, however. While the process is lengthy and nerve wracking, guidance is available for those who may need support. At NDB, Dr. Dina

Cunha and the entire counseling department offer support year-round through essay writing workshops over the summer, on-call advice during school, organized visits from schools and resources in Schoology.

Additionally, students may come to learn of the somewhat arbitrary nature of acceptances. While the seemingly random selection of admitted students is frustrating, they may find comfort in the fact that a “yes” or “no” is not a reflection of their self-worth.

As the junior class gears up for applications, they can find assurance in the fact that they are aware of the hardships ahead, with strategies to mitigate struggle.

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: TheNDBCatalyst @gmail.com

Website: TheNDBCatalyst.com

Social Media / Instagram & Twitter: @TheNDBCatalyst

PHOTO COURTESY OF AVA MARINOS Ava Marinos poses with a WWII veteran.

A Q U A C A D E S

Aquacades through an ASB officer’s perspective

by Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer

It was Friday, April 21, 2023 at 9:15 a.m.. Students were in their fifth block classes, itching to hear the bell ring. But unlike any other Friday, it was not the prospect of the weekend which excited the Tigers – in a few short hours, the NDB community would gather for Aquacades.

Being the ASB Director of Communications, there was no feeling more gratifying than that of the nearly-tangible excitement in the air. Our small but mighty group had rehearsed, prepared and planned for collectively hundreds of hours. For our work to pay off in such a significant way was a feeling unlike any other.

Any member of ASB, past or present, will affirm that Aquacades is not only the Friday night where the school gathers, but the months of preparation. Beginning in May 2022, we began brainstorming themes for this year. Student council input, personal preferences and past themes were all taken into consideration to eventually decide on “Vay -

cades” in the fall. As soon as the theme was selected, it was upon us to create a mix. A daunting nine and a half minutes, the 22-song mix took weeks to compile and edit. Concurrently, we prepared our announcement video, which takes audiences to the corners of the Earth we highlight as we filmed

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at the beach, in the snow, in San Francisco and even the jungle.

Much to our surprise, the announcement went off exactly as planned. And almost immediately, chatter filled the halls, predicting which classes would receive which themes,

preparing groups for routines and generally producing a school-wide hopeful anticipation.

Now that the announcement was set, it was time to plan the actual event. We began with our backdrop. The 20 by 20 foot canvas was no easy feat to fill, and the act of priming it took several weeks on its own. But after what seemed to be hundreds of hours of painting, the backdrop was completed just before spring break. Our most proud detail was not the intricate jungle shrubbery or the colorful lettering, but our six handprints, placed and signed in the corner, which marked the piece as our own. As we prepared our backdrop, our routine came together, bit by bit, as lunch choreography sessions turned into full dress rehearsals, jumping in the school pool at nine a.m. on Sundays.

Then, came the day of Aquacades. All of our rehearsals and sleepless nights paid off. The cheers as we entered the pool deck were deafening. Although the event which we had poured a year’s worth of work into was gone in a short moment, the memory of Vaycades lasts forever.

Being in an Aquacades routine is more than worth it

by Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor

There is so much anticipation and excitement surrounding Aquacades that begins even before becoming a student at NDB. The tradition rooted spectacle is such an elemental part of the NDB experience that students often want to make the most out of the event and question whether that is done by participating in a routine or remaining in the stands. Each year, as Aquacades sign-ups begin, NDB students go back and forth on whether to commit to doing a routine.

There always seems to be some reason to opt out, whether it be worries about finding time to practice, not having a close bond with group members or simply lacking dance skills. However, as someone who has experienced Aquacades as both a participant and an audience member, I can say that it is definitely worth it to perform in an Aquacades routine during your time at NDB.

Aquacades naturally unites the whole school, but participating in a routine provides a unique opportunity to grow much closer to some of your classmates. In some cases, this could be friends you are already familiar and close with, but in other instances, you may find yourself in a group with others whom you do not know as well.

The time spent choreographing a routine, planning props and costumes and practicing outside of school provides

opportunities for laughing and bonding with groupmates. The four years of high school go by incredibly fast, so it is important to seize this opportunity to create new bonds. Even after the final performance, there is still a sentimentality that ties groupmates together and carries through the rest of your time at NDB.

Being one of the students to represent your class an honor and it provides the incentive to put your whole heart into your performance. Although Aquacades is ultimately about having fun and joining in the spirit of NDB, sister-rivalries have become a significant part of the event. Each class wants to win at the end of the night. When

your performance plays a role in your class’ success, or victory, it is an amazing feeling.

Last year, I decided to participate in a group deck routine for my class, and it was undeniably an amazing experience. Not only did I develop a close bond with my group members, but I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that we helped contribute to our class’ win. I was so much more invested in Aquacades because of all the practice I had put in and the pride I had in my group’s performance. Being in a routine may require extra time commitment, but the excitement it brings to Aquacades and the bonds it creates makes it worth it.

Students spend months working on their routines so that they are fully prepared to perform at Aquacades.

Students reflect on their experiences at this year’s Aquacades

by Ashley Turner Staff Writer

On April 21, NDB’s most spirited annual event commenced. A beloved NDB tradition, Aquacades is an annual poolside rally filled with deck and swim performances made by students and even teachers. A group of alumnae are invited to return each year in order to judge each performance and determine the winners of all categories.

NDB’s Associated Student Body (ASB) organizes the whole event and has been planning it since May 2022. In December, ASB announced that Aquacades 2023 would be vacation destination themed, cleverly named “Vaycades.” Each class was designated a specific theme and music genre with the requirement that it be incorporated into all class routines. This year, the freshmen had the mountains with country music, sophomores had the jungle and rock, juniors had the city and R&B and seniors had the beach and pop music.

Students get involved with Aquacades by signing up to work on the class backdrop or by doing a routine. These are started weeks and even months in advance. The backdrops are directed by backdrop captains that sign up to lead its execution.

The classes get competitive over dance mixtapes, costumes, routines and spirit.

On the day of Aquacades, students attended the Aquacades rally in the Moore Pavillion at the end of the school day. Organized by ASB, the rally included games as each class competed for spirit points.

The students were then sent home to

prepare for the evening. At 4:30 p.m., students arrived back at school dressed up in class colored face paint, tutus and anything else they could find. Those who were participating in a routine arrived in costume, ready to perform.

The alumnae were all invited to tailgate before they were ushered in for each class’ entrance. “Entrances” are skits performed by each grade, and are prepared ahead of time by NDB’s class councils. The entrances begin the festivities as classes compete to have the most creative performance and appeal to the judges for spirit points.

After class entrances, each alumna judge was announced and welcomed back with a warm applause from the student body, which began the main event.

Students in routines headed to their designated classrooms which overlooked the pool while the others gathered at the bleachers. Vaycades began with the solo deck and swim routines, with 21 routines to follow.

ASB’s routine was the last to perform. Their routine is longer than all others as the routine combines the themes and music genres of all four classes.

Students awaited anxiously for the win ners of the sections, and especially, the win ners of Aquacades as a whole. Once it came down to the top two classes, everyone listened for who would be announced as the overall winner. When the junior Dragons heard their class named, they proudly cheered their class chant.

“Winning Aquacades was huge for the Class of 2024 this year,” said junior Jaimie Cleland. “Every single person in the junior class was screaming and cheering each other on, it was awesome.”

Vaycades proved to be a memorable night of the 2022-2023 school year. The event

CLASS OF 2024: THE DRAGONS CLASS

OF 2023: THE WILDCATS

CLASS OF 2025: THE MONARCHS CLASS OF 2026: THE SHARKS

23 takeaways from the Class of ‘23 Seniors give advice to underclassmen

Information compiled by Genevieve Klein and Kate Davidson, Editorial Staff and graphic design by Sophia Bao, Contributing Artist.

Oh, the places they’ll go!

The Class of 2023 post-NDB plans

Arizona

Arizona State University:

Alexandra Cadenasso

Samantha Cho

University of Arizona:

Jenna Reynolds

California

American River College:

Kaitlyn Bjorkquist

California State University, Long Beach:

Coco Meerkamp

California State University, Chico:

Gianna Balestrino

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo:

Yusra Al-Dabbagh

Melanie Castelli

Amy Kanzaki

Ciara Kingham

Kaelin Kockos

Sophia Rask

Chapman University:

Megan Cabral

Mabelle Joudieh

Dayna Sockol

College of San Mateo:

Sofia Panagrossi

Concordia University Irvine:

Alexa Couto

Dominican University of California:

Emma Rasmussen

Fairfield University:

Sophie Fowler

Loyola Marymount University:

Charlotte Sullivan

Erin Wallace

Menlo College:

Bella Topalian

Saint Mary’s College of California:

Payton Sellers

Ariana Kraemer

San Diego State University:

Sofia Frisz

Ciara Mangan

Monique Samson

Bridget Sennett

Kate Davidson

Suhani Patel

Santa Barbara City College:

Malia Tapp

Santa Clara University:

Amelia Ailanjian

Anna Lin

University of California, Berkeley:

Lauren Fitzgerald

Clarissa Wing

University of California, Davis:

Lauren Nobleza

University of California, Los Angeles: Brooke Anderson

Ella Chatterjee

Keilee Hane

Ariel Lucas

Eva Nichter

University of California, Riverside:

Athena Carvallo

Tula Tzartzanis

University of California, Santa Barbara:

Abby Co

Sienna Loar

University of California, Santa Cruz:

Ally Co

Morgan Stein

University of California, San Diego:

Lynne Pan

University of Redlands:

Sofia Gomez

University of San Diego:

Desea Bond

Cristine Niswander

Zeina Zumot

University of San Francisco:

Carina Carlson

University of Southern California:

Ava Marinos

Molly Phan

Colorado

University of Colorado, Boulder:

Stella Affrunti

Anna Keim

Olivia Vandaveld

University of Denver:

Kayla Hollister

Florida

University of Miami:

Cora Jolls

Illinois

Loyola University Chicago:

Eva Benson

Millikin University:

Isabella Hildebrand-Veccia

Louisiana

Louisiana State University: Jennifer Huang

Massachusetts

Boston University:

Gabrielle Wylie-Chaney

Boston College: Genevieve Klein

Northeastern University: Hannah Nebres

University of Massachusetts, Boston: Sophia Vahabi

Maine

Bates College:

Mary Courtney Templeton

Mississippi

University of Mississippi: Hailey Hobson

Ava Lynch

New York

Hofstra University: Sabeena Kapoor

New York University: Kristi Xia

Kayla Kosaka

Pratt Institute: Delaney Icard-Cullen

Syracuse University: Abigail Edelhart

Parsons School of Design: Helen Ren

North Carolina

East Carolina University: Cassidy Morris

Wake Forest University: Kassandra Hickson

Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma: Abigail Earnshaw

Oregon

University of Oregon: Georgia Blaney

Kaitlyn Hoppas

Annabelle Huber

Kate O’Connor

Casey Peterson

Charlotte Stogner

University of Portland: Elana Halteh

Willamette University: Caramia Christensen

Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: Ashna Tumuluri

Quebec

McGill University: Salma Galal

Rhode Island

Roger Williams University: Siena Patrick

Texas

Baylor University: Caitlynn Reynolds

Southern Methodist University: Kendall Duffy

Texas Christian University:

Madeline Cummins

Meghan Mitchell

Lola Sanguinetti

Washington

Gonzaga University: Krista Mananquil

Delaney Sprague

University of Washington:

Isabella Alvaro

Chloe Parkinson

Washington, D.C.

George Washington University: Anna Pires

Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Madison: Sarah Howie

Virginia

Virginia Tech: Ella Ebert

Other

Cara Griffin

Jennifer Jin

Carys Maayeh

Helen Xu

Seniors prepare for graduation on Day of Reflection

by Eva Nichter News Co-Editor

The Wildcats participated in a Senior Day of Reflection on May 15, taking a break from classes and spending the school day reflecting on their last few days as NDB students.

The retreat was held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. at Saint Bart’s Parish in San Mateo, which is the same location that the Wildcats had their Freshman Retreat at in 2019.

The day was planned and organized by NDB Director of Mission and Ministry Amy Jobin and former NDB teacher Carolyn Hutchins, who prepared many reflective discussions and activities for the seniors to participate in to have a fun and enjoyable final retreat.

“The hope for the Senior Day of Reflection is to give our seniors a chance to come together one more time as a class before they graduate,” said Jobin. “[It is a time] to really reflect on

what’s happened to them during their four years and to think about our mission and what from our mission that they’re going to take with them.”

The classmates first gathered in the church and listened to what activities and speakers were in store for them that day. Upon arrival, they completed a questionnaire-style worksheet that allowed for students to reflect on their faith backgrounds and the most important people in their lives. After completing the questions, the students had the opportunity to share some of their answers with their classmates, allowing for the day to begin with open and honest discussion.

The senior class was sorted into small groups for the next activity, each led by an NDB administrator. In their small groups, the students did some short icebreaker activities to become comfortable discussing and reflecting within their circle.

After the first small group activity, the seniors re-grouped in the main hall to listen to a speech given by their classmate, Lynne Pan. Pan discussed her own NDB journey and reflected on some of the memorable moments from her four years of high school that she will always remember. She discussed her change from boarding school to high school, and how she was able to find a community at NDB.

“It was a very fascinating experience, especially because I have never really done it before and I’m kind of a shy person,” said Pan. “So I felt like I was making myself step out of the comfort zone a little bit and it was fun.”

Before lunch, the seniors re-joined their small groups and discussed their favorite memories from each of their four years at NDB. Each group was then assigned either freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year and had to create a two minute skit based on a fa-

vorite class memory from that year. Students had fun recreating moments, like from distanced learning and freshman orientation, as they reflected on the past four years.

The class also heard from NDB alumna and daughter of Hutchins, Kylie Hutchins, who re-

flected on her time at NDB and the importance of living and being present in the moment.

After lunch, the seniors heard from their final speaker of the day, Mirna Yao, whose speech touched the hearts of the senior class. She discussed the process and the impor-

tance of saying goodbye, as the seniors will prepare to say their goodbyes soon and move on to their bright futures.

In their final small group activity of the day, the seniors each decorated a photo frame to hold their favorite memory of the year.

Wildcats and their mothers attend Senior Brunch

by Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor

On Sunday, May 21, members of the graduating senior class joined by their mothers, grandmothers or close friends gathered in the dining room for the annual Senior Mother Daughter Brunch and Prayer Service. Dressed in spring colors, the Wildcats got the chance to bond with these special women in their life and thank them for all their support during the last four years.

To begin the prayer service, Kassie Hickson welcomed the Class of 2023 and their mothers and delivered an opening prayer about the importance of these mother, daughter bonds and the

strength it has provided the seniors throughout highschool.

Members of the senior class delivered readings, a responsorial psalm and a passage from Scripture. Then, Caitlynn Reynolds and her mother each gave heartfelt, eloquent speeches about the way NDB has grown Reynold’s friendships, spirituality and confidence, which brought some to tears.

Everyone then took part in a blessing where each pair exchanged their favorite memories together and anointed one another with oil. Lastly, Anna Keim and Ariel Lucas delivered a closing prayer to end the prayer service and begin the brunch portion of the day.

The seniors and their mothers, grandmothers and special friends enjoyed an amazing brunch as they talked with other members of their table and reminisced about their time at NDB.

“The Mother Daughter Brunch was such a special experience and I felt very fortunate to have been able to share it with my mom and with my best friends and classmates,” said senior Kassie Hickson.

The prayer service and brunch was truly a meaningful event that helped the senior class connect with the important women in their life before they graduate in just a few short weeks.

The Class of ‘23 Wildcats get ready to graduate

From SENIORS | Page 1

Forensics Science and Precalculus Honors which were important to me because I had hoped to go into the STEM field after high school,” said senior Sienna Loar.

The Class of 2023 also peaked from a spirit perspective during their junior year, especially due to their first place victory at Aquacades 2022.

“Winning Aquacades junior year was such an eye-opening experience since it really showed us how Notre Dame has encouraged us to bond and appreciate each other,” ex-

pressed Senior Class President Monique Samson. In August of 2022, the Wildcats began what has proven to be a roller coaster of their senior year. In the fall semester, seniors were overwhelmed with college applications, and early in the spring semester, college rejections and acceptances had them in a spiral of emotions. However, as the Wildcats are in their final weeks of high school, they have all decided on their future plans and will spend their final moments together thankful for the way NDB has prepared them for life beyond high school.

EVA NICHTER / THE CATALYST

Each senior received a sunflower at the end of the retreat.

THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

Seniors pose with their mothers after the Senior Brunch.

Valedictorian and Salutatorians announced on May 17

by Mia Muzzi Managing Editor

On Wednesday, May 17, selected students were invited to attend the Academic Awards, an event that marks the announcement of the senior class’ Valedictorian and Salutatorian. This year, Ariel Lucas was named Valedictorian with Eva Nichter and Kristi Xia sharing the role of Salutatorians.

The Valedictorian is chosen by administration through detailed consideration of their academic success as well as their school involvement. Lucas embodies a successful NDB student in all areas, and has gained respect from her classmates by demonstrating a strong sense of dedication and hardwork.

During her time at NDB, Lucas was involved in peer tutoring and served as the Key Club secretary for the last two years. She is also a member of the Track and Field team and has also managed to up-

hold a high standing grade point average (GPA). Outside of school, she works at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, where she has developed an interest in healthcare.

“I cannot believe it. It’s very surreal. And I’m very thankful to my family, the Notre Dame community, teachers, classmates. I couldn’t have done it without them. And yeah, I’m just really excited.” said Lucas.

As Valedictorian, Lucas also has the honor of giving a farewell speech to her classmates at their graduation.

“It’s important to me because we’ve all been through so much, especially because of the pandemic,” said Lucas. “ I just want it to be a celebration of all the hard work that we’ve done. All the things we’ve been through as a class together, and we really persevered. And I’m really thankful that I get to speak for the class as a whole.”

This year, the po-

sition of Salutatorian is shared by two remarkable NDB students. Nichter and Xia were both acknowledged for their GPAs, community service hours, clubs, sports and leadership positions that they each held while attending NDB.

Nichter, an active member in NDB’s community and most notably was on the NHS Board, Ambassador Board and a part of the Key Club. She has been a dedicated member of The Catalyst for the past three years, and served as a Contributing Writer, a Staff Writer and most recently, as the News Co-Editor. Outside of school, Nichter is a figure skater and also enjoys teaching figure skating lessons when not in practice.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities that Notre Dame has given me to become a stronger student academically and also become more involved in extracurriculars within my community,” said Nichter. “Being able to represent

the student body and say thank you for those opportunities is really special.”

Xia is also involved in various community service activities, including Key Club and Ambassador Board. Through each of these activities, Xia has worked in a variety of areas and exemplifies what it means to

be a NDB student. In addition to all of the hard work she does in school, Xia also works at Philz Coffee for around 10-15 hours per week after school.

“I was really surprised that I got Salutatorian and I really wasn’t expecting it,” said Xia. “I am so happy because I have put in a lot of work the past few

years, and I’m glad that it all paid off.”

With graduation rapidly approaching, Lucas, Xia and Nichter look forward to attending college in the fall. Lucas and Nichter will both be attending the University of California, Los Angeles and Xia will be at New York University.

Class of 2023 ends the year with their Senior Sunset

by Ava Marinos & Mia Muzzi Editorial Staff

On the evening of Thursday, May 18, NDB seniors prepared to graduate by attending the annual “Senior Sunset.”

The Senior Sunset is a tradition organized by the senior class council and represents the end of their time at NDB. Similarly on the first day of school, seniors attended what was called the “Senior Sunrise,” an event in which they began their year by watching the sunrise together. Now as they approach their last few days of high school, they close the year with the sunset.

Seniors were instructed to arrive on campus at 6:30 p.m., sporting their college sweatshirts and other paraphernalia. Students from the Class of 2023 got accepted into a variety of universities, ranging across the nation and this gave them the opportunity to officially reveal to everyone where they will be heading to next.

“To plan, first off we had to find a date towards the end of the semester that had no other school events going on. It lined up perfectly this year with senior holiday being the next day so later night wasn’t going to impact them school wise,” said Class Coordinator Kate

Mahoney. Considered a rite of passage, the Senior Sunset is something that many NDB students look forward to. The night is solely dedicated to giving the Wildcats one final celebration before they leave NDB and many seniors appreciated the opportunity to spend it with the girls they have built friendships with over the past four years.

“I was really happy to be able to spend the night with my friends. This time has been especially busy and so being able to congratulate my classmates and celebrate their successes was something really valuable to me,” said senior Anna Keim.

To begin the night, Marketing and Communications Manager Cat Adamis took a group picture of the senior class to commemorate the night. The students then spent the rest of their time on the front lawn, posing for photos with friends, capturing lifelong memories that they will be able to cherish forever. In addition to the thousands of photos taken, many seniors spent their time filming graduation themed TikToks revealing where they will be spending the next several years of their lives.

The class council also organized the Sanchos Taquillera taco truck to arrive on campus and many

of the seniors enjoyed the wide assortment of Mexican food available to them.

For dessert, the Wildcats lined up at the Mister Softee ice cream truck where there were various frozen treats such as soft serve ice cream cones, popsicles and ice cream sandwiches.

“I had so much fun at our Senior Sunset,” says senior Clarissa Wing.

“Seeing everyone in their college sweatshirts was definitely a bittersweet moment since it means that we are one step closer to graduation. I am going to miss NDB, my teachers and all the friendships I’ve made. But I am excited to see what everyone will accomplish in the future as

we start a new chapter.”

In addition to the Wildcats, other members of NDB’s community were in attendance. Both of the Senior Class’ Coordinators, along with other staffulty, came to support the graduating Class of 2023.

“The seniors really got a chance to say goodbye and understand that this is it. It was very special to be there,” said Class Coordinator Mirna Yao.

This year’s Senior Sunset marked a very important milestone for the Wildcats. As finals approach and preparation for graduation continues, many of the seniors enjoyed being given this night to relax amongst their classmates.

MOLLY PHAN / THE CATALYST

Salutatorian Kristi Xia, Valedictorian Ariel Lucas and Salutatorian Eva Nichter (left to right) were announced at the Academic Awards.

On May 18, the Wildcats attended their Senior Sunset, where they showed off their future colleges and spent the evening celebrating with classmates.

Dear moms, thank you for everything you do for us

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

Mothers, you are the epitome of strength and resilience. You embrace the challenges with determination, putting the needs of your children before your own. Your sacrifices often go unnoticed, but they create a foundation of love and stability that shapes our lives in profound ways.

Through your unconditional love, you provide a safe haven in a world that can sometimes be harsh and unforgiving. Your warm embrace is a source of comfort, and your gentle words of encouragement inspire us to reach for the stars. In times of adversity, you are our guiding light, offering solace and guidance to navigate the storms of life. Your love knows no boundaries, and your unwavering belief in our potential fuels our dreams.

But Mother’s Day isn’t just about expressing gratitude for the past; it’s also about celebrating the present and looking forward to the future. Our mothers continue to be an important source of love

and support, even as we become adults and start families of our own. They remain our biggest cheerleaders, our most trusted advisors and our dearest friends.

Mothers, you are the ultimate multitaskers, effortlessly juggling countless responsibilities. You are the chef, the nurse, the teacher, the counselor and the cheerleader all rolled into one. Your days are filled with endless to-do lists and sleepless nights, yet you tackle each challenge with grace and determination. Your resilience and dedication are a testament to your love for us.

In a world that can often be chaotic and unpredictable, our mothers provide a sense of stability and security that is invaluable. They remind us of the importance of kindness, compassion and empathy, and they encourage us to be our best selves.

To all the mothers out there, whether biological, adoptive, stepmothers or mother figures, we thank you from the depths of our hearts. Your love is immeasurable, your sacrifices are unparalleled and

your presence is a gift that enriches our lives. Mother’s Day should be filled with warmth, laughter and cherished memories that will forever be etched in our hearts.

NDB is filled with motherly support. It is practically built on the foundation of moms and our school would not be the same without them. To all of the female staff at NDB that we may look up to, we appreciate you and we thank you for all that you do.

So when we reflect on Mother’s Day this year, let us take a moment to reflect on all that our mothers have done for us, and to express our heartfelt appreciation for their love and support. It is also important to remember to be grateful for your mom everyday, not just once a year.

Whether it’s with a simple phone call, a heartfelt card or a thoughtful gift, let’s show our mothers just how much they mean to us, and let’s do our best to honor their legacy by being the best versions of ourselves that we can be.

Summer concert series: Where the music meets the sun

The most anticipated tour of the summer is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The Bay Area has long waited for her two nights at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 28 and 29. Tickets were quickly sold out, but many are being resold. Her performances so far have been going viral in the media with fans raving over her outfits, each planned to correspond with an era. She even includes unique surprise songs buried in the set list for each night.

Her fans never disappoint as they often plan outfits that correlate to her lyrics or are simply reflective of an era. Whether it is a sparkly cowboy hat or rhinestoned boots, “swifties” always look the part. The Eras Tour is the spotlight concert of the summer.

Luke Bryan is returning to Shoreline Amphitheater on July 22. The “American Idol” host is one of the most-known country artists. His most popular “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” is always the best at getting the audience on their feet. He is sure to include many well known country anthems mixed with some recent works. Shoreline is surely one of the liveliest concert hotspots, its lawn being popular for picnicking and the open skies that suit the summer weather.

Country concerts are always the best opportunity to go all out. Attendees typically wear cowboy boots and are sure to include denim in their outfits. Luke Bryan’s Country on Tour will be a night to remember.

San Francisco is the home to the biggest music festival in the Bay Area. Outside Lands is set for August 11-13 in Golden Gate Park. The festival includes three main stages that will hold the headliners Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar and Odesza as well as other minor artists. The festival will be held the weekend before the 20232024 school year begins, making it the perfect chance to celebrate the end of summer and the start of the new year.

Outside Lands supports local businesses by having tents with food from Bay Area restaurants. Be sure to bring essentials like sunscreen, a water bottle and layers. The festival’s variety of artists ensures the audience’s enjoyment.

The Frost Amphitheater is located at Stanford University and is hosting the Re:SET concert series. It is smaller and more mild compared to the wellknown and big festivals, but still has factors like food and multiple artists. The concerts are spread over three days from July 2-4. Each artist also performs on the same stage, ensuring that the audience has the chance to experience every headliner.

The headliners include LCD Soundsystem, Steve Lacy and Boygenius. Each day begins in the afternoon and consists of more than three artists daily. The handful of artists performing are a variety of alternative, indie and rock genres. This concert presents a less overwhelming music festival.

THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

This year, Mother’s Day fell on May 14 and many students spent the day with their moms, giving appreciation for all that they do.

Tri-School’s “Matilda” nominated for Rita Moreno Awards

by Ashley Turner Staff Writer

Two weeks following their closing night, the cast and crew of the TriSchool production “Matilda” was notified that they had been nominated for best overall performance at the Rita Moreno Awards and that their lead actress, Gabbie Jison, had been nominated for best lead actress.

The show was held at San Jose’s Center for the performing arts. The awards are named after Rita Moreno, a trailblazing Puerto Rican actress notable for her lasting career both on camera and on stage. The awards show holds awards in five categories: overall production, fan favorite, lead actor, lead actress and supporting performer. The nominees were determined by eight adjudicators who attended the productions which applied. They then selected the finalists that would be nominated. The three designated judges will be judging the featured performances of the night.

“Matilda’s” directors created a medley

of significant songs from the musical. They included moments with high energy and somber songs to show the wave of emotions the show brings. They rehearsed choreography one final time an hour before the show’s opening. Casts and other nominees gathered as they awaited their time to perform.

The show opened and a message from Rita Moreno herself was displayed. She apologized for her absence due to finding her next role.

“Matilda” was the last to perform out of the nominees for best overall production. Cast members hastily touched up their makeup before heading backstage to perform.

The cast of “Matilda” struck their final pose, a wide stance with a fist in the air, their last time ever performing together. The first act of the Rita Moreno Awards concluded and members of the audience cast their vote for fan favorite. The second act began with the lead actor showcase. As the judges returned to the podium, casts anxiously awaited the name of the fan-favorite winner,

which was Saint Mary’s High School’s “Newsies” production. The next award was for best lead actress.

Mercy HS junior Gabbie Jison performed “Matilda’s” beloved “Naughty” as her song. Cast members of the show anxiously awaited the winner when the judge stood behind the podium.

When they heard their fellow cast member’s name called, the cast all stood up, applauding Jison’s win. She entered the stage and gave her speech, thanking everyone involved with the production.

“Gabbie 100% deserved that award,” said junior Mia Meza. “She was so hardworking and insanely talented.”

Jison will be sponsored by the Rita Moreno Awards to join other talented high school performers at the Jimmy Awards. She will be exposed to valuable guidance from established Broadway professionals. At the end of the program, students will perform a showcase on a Broadway Stage. Jison will be performing alongside equally brilliant peers and will return with experience that is far from ordinary.

Movie review: Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”

by Emilia Luis Contributing Writer

Any and all hope for Marvel enthusiasts is that the movies will keep their timeless feel, rather than films and series being made by the masses.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” does exactly that, bringing some nostalgia and encapsulating the emotion along with great cinematography, making it truly worth it to watch.

Even being the third movie in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, it is not necessary to watch the other films beforehand, even though it is recommended. Scattered throughout the first half of the film are background details such as the upbringing

of Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt, as well as his relationship with Gamora, played by Zoe Saldaña. While this will give the viewer a fuller picture of the movie itself, it is much easier to follow the plot with both Volumes One and Two in your arsenal. However, one of the biggest differences in this film is the lack of upbeat moments at the start. If anything, the film almost feels more like a Marvel-themed horror movie. It starts off introducing the main characters, the Guardians, in their headquarters, Knowhere.

With a quick cameo of a talking raccoon named Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, one of the many villains of the movie is introduced, and severely

harms Rocket. The goal of the film is to save Rocket, which in turn, leads the Guardians and the audience to learn about the rodent’s tragic backstory.

As for another one of the protagonists, Peter Quill, he is portrayed slightly differently. From being the comical, smart guy to the vulnerable, lovesick hero, he gives off a different vibe than the former two movies. His first love disassociates herself from him, leading him into a downward spiral into alcoholism. However, when his friends are in need, he steps back into the persona of self-motivated and selfmade warrior.

While this movie is heartfelt and very moving, it has gotten the lowest

score in the trilogy, a grand 82% from Rotten Tomatoes, 64% from Metacritic but the highest 83% from IMDb. But is it fair to judge the film based on those percentages and is it really worth it? Will it ruin one’s love for the entirety of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies? Simply stated, yes it is worth it and no it will not. It is not as similar to the first two films, but it brings a new perspective and a creative storyline to mix things up.

If you are looking for an exact copy of the other Guardians of the Galaxy movies, this may not be the movie for you. But if you are looking for a wholesome movie with a storyline like no other, this movie is just for you.

May the Fourth be with you: NDB celebrates Star Wars Day

by Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer

Members of the NDB community gathered on May fourth to celebrate “Star Wars Day.” Chosen as a play on the franchise’s famous phrase “May the force be with you”, “May the Fourth” has been celebrated for years as an opportunity to gather as a fan community and celebrate the culturally significant stories created by George Lucas.

“I went to a Star

Wars movie marathon in Modesto and saw Episodes Four, Five, Six and Rogue One,” said English Department Chair and Star Wars enthusiast, Robert Rojas.

“My favorite movie is Return of the Jedi because we get to see Luke Skywalker defeat Darth Vader and turn him back into a good guy.”

Participants have become increasingly creative in the ways that they celebrate the holiday. From character cosplays to fan meet-ups, they provide no shortage of ways to en-

gage. With new and old Star Wars content on the hit streaming service Disney+, the franchise’s fandom can binge-watch all of their new and old favorites from the comfort of their homes. Even better, movie theaters across the country are playing “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” for a limited time in celebration of its fortieth anniversary. The film is the third original Star Wars film to be produced following “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back.” It is also the sixth film to exist

chronologically within the “Skywalker saga.”

“I like to revisit my favorite moments from different Star Wars media and look ahead to the exciting future of projects that have been revealed,” commented senior Carina Carlson. “Star Wars is a world I can escape to, while at the same time, it’s a reflection of the real world.”

This year, NDB fans continued the tradition and celebrated the commemorative day.

“I went to Boba

Guys and I got a special drink called the Bantha milk,” said junior Ashley Turner. “It’s supposed to be from one of the charac ters from Star Wars and it actually tasted really good.”

For all those who cel ebrated, “May the Fourth” is a chance to recognize the franchise which has brought millions of fans worldwide together and honor all those who

once, and continue to, bring

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN KRANTZ Kavan Bhatia, Gabbie Jison and Venice Mayor (left to right) pose with their newly awarded RMAs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARVEL STUDIOS “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” was released in local theaters on May 5.

Spring senior celebrations highlight outgoing senior athletes

by Ashley Turner Staff Writer

As the final sports of the 2022-2023 school year ended their seasons, senior nights were held at their final home games as a farewell to the graduating seniors. The five spring sports, consisting of beach volleyball, lacrosse, track and field, softball and swimming, all put great dedication into their celebrations.

Beach volleyball celebrated their senior night on the beach courts. It was a game day against Crystal Springs, a team known for their ability to touch any ball. The game was opened with the gifting posters and a bouquet of flowers for the five seniors. The team members

decorated posters consisting of pictures and notes on the back. Parents of both NDB and Crystal Springs players applauded them for their dedication to the sport and for their future careers.

Crystal Springs teams even presented the NDB seniors with bouquets, displaying good sportsmanship. The games commenced, as well as a potluck dinner with contributions from both teams. The players and parents were able to eat together after and in between games. Five pairs of players participated in the match and all seniors played their final match on NDB’s home courts.

The Lacrosse senior night was set for their game against Presentation. The rest of the team arrived early to help decorate for

the ceremony and surprised their seniors. For the brief ceremony, the seniors of Presentation went first, receiving a bouquet from the NDB players. Each NDB senior was announced and given a sash, poster, gift basket, and a bouquet. Their teammates had created the posters during school in a classroom to ensure that they would remain a surprise. The baskets were a collaborative effort between players and parents with comforting gifts such as blankets, fuzzy socks, and candies. The lacrosse senior night finished with a 10 to 3 victory over Presentation. The track and field senior night coincided with their team banquet. The banquet was planned for after the season’s con-

clusion a few days prior. It was hosted in the NDB dining hall on Monday, May 11 with tons of spirited decorations for the occasion. Junior Carly Sullivan gifted the seniors with a handmade poster and a gift basket. The gift basket included a sash, the senior’s favorite candy, slippers, and a t-shirt of their future college. Parents were invited to the banquet as well, and took photos with their graduating daughter. Softball’s senior night coincided with their Fan Fest banquet on May 11. They faced off NDSJ and beat them with a score of 4 to 2. Christina Okubo announced the seniors of both teams following their warmups. The booster club managed a barbeque that had hot dogs and ham-

burgers. The two softball seniors were surprised with balloons, posters, sashes and gift baskets from the whole team. Their dugout even featured balloon decorations overhead all of the players. With the chance of playing past the regular season, their teammates hoped to win the game to give the seniors a longer final season. The perfect ending of Senior Night was the eventual victory which opened their postseason being #4 seed in the Division 5 CCS softball championships.

The swimming seniors were recognized at their championship swim meet at SHP HS with an announcement of their name and favorite memory, and were given a rose from their teammates. Their team-

mates decorated their tent with spirited decorations to celebrate their last meet all together. The seniors were also surprised with a gift basket. Each team member chipped in to fill the basket with water bottles, necklaces, and snacks. A more personal gift were the posters which were made collaboratively. With there only being three senior swimmers, they were given a special celebration of their years participating in NDB swim.

Celebrating the seniors was bittersweet, yet their teammates wished them the best on their next endeavors. Senior athletes leave NDB with a support system of teammates that will continue to cheer them on.

Spirit Squad welcomes new program director and coach

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

With the start of a new season comes the start of a new program. NDB recently welcomed Morgan Craig as Program Director and Head NDB Spirit Team Coach. As previous coach of the NDB Spirit Squad for more than 16 years, Craig is bringing a lot of experience and energy into the rebuilding process of the program.

Craig was the head cheer and dance coach at NDB from 2001 to 2017. He led his teams to win five National Championships and two Grand Championships with the United Spirit Association (USA) and the National Cheerleading Association (NCA). Craig later returned unexpectedly due to the state of the NDB cheer team.

Craig was given the sudden opportuni-

ty to return to NDB as interim head coach for both the pom and cheer teams back in February of 2023. Although instantaneous, he dropped his retired life in Virginia to take both teams through Nationals and to the end of their season. Craig’s love for the sport of cheerleading and his commitment to NDB was highlighted through his prompt return. Craig picked up his life in Virginia to move back once offered a fulltime position.

In his early years, Craig always found an interest in cheerleading due to his passion for dancing and tumbling. From the sixth to the twelfth grades, he was the lone male cheerleader at Fremont Christian School in California, and was named an All American by USA all four years of high school. His involvement in cheer and dance in-

fluenced other boys to join him during his senior year as varsity cheer captain. He was chosen to be a cheerleader at the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. Out of all 200 male and female collegiate athletes, Craig was the youngest one invited.

After graduating high school, Craig began as a USA staff member and taught summer cheer camps all along the West Coast. Following that, his career took off. He began judging several regional and national competitions, for both the USA and America’s Cup. He later opened his own competitive cheerleading gym, Premiere Allstars, in San Mateo, CA in 2005.

Craig was one of the two co-founders of CHEER San Francisco, a nonprofit cheering group, in 1992. For almost 20 years, he worked

as a creative coach and choreographer, where he gained most of his experience, while also directing the organization as a whole. CHEER SF used cheerleading to advocate and raise money for organizations supporting those suffering from HIV, AIDS, cancer, etc.

The teams marched in both of President Clinton’s inauguration parades in Washington, D.C., under Morgan’s leadership. Craigs teams performed in Chinese New Year parades in Singapore, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam and Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In 2010, CHEER SF was featured on the TV show, “America’s Got Talent.” With Craigs choreography, their performance led them through each round, onto live television and to being one of the final 48

acts on the show.

Craig’s natual talent and immense background in cheerleading has drawn him back to be the program director and head coach of NDB’s pom and cheer teams. His new policies allowed tryouts to run smoothly in the first week of May.

“I want to bring recognition back to the team like the program. I want to continue to do

what I did before and build the program because I want our teams to be huge,” Craig shared. “I just want to build up the reputation of the program to where I had built it up before.”

Craig’s prior experience in cheerleading and coaching makes him well equipped to take back control of NDB’s Spirit Team program and help it excel once again.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIANA ESGUERRA

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE MAHONEY

The Varsity Lacrosse team celebrates their six seniors on their achievements while on the team.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE MAHONEY

The five beach volleyball seniors were recognized at their final home game with posters and flowers.

NDB hosts Annual All-Sport Banquet to close out the year

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

This year’s sports banquet was held Friday, May 12 in NDB’s Moore Pavilion. This event brings together athletes from each sport to recognize each other’s athletic strengths and bid a final goodbye to their senior teammates.

Announced by NDB Athletics Director Christina Okubo, the awards segment started with team-nominated recognitions. These commonly consist of the MVP, Most Inspirational, Most Improved and the Coach’s Award. Each sport had up to five winners who were asked to stand up and take

a photo. Okubo went on to announce the recipients of the five major athletic awards. She explained the significance of each and why each athlete deserved said award.

The first winner was Julianna Loar, achieving the Coach Ron Williams Memorial Scholarship. This award is given to a freshman on the basketball team that embodies the qualities of the late coach and has a strong future in the sport.

The Season of Sport Award was won by senior Abigail Earnshaw, who played both water polo and softball all four years of high school – an impres-

sive eight seasons in total. Not only has she had many “seasons of sport,” but she also has shown her dedication to each sport individually, justifying her win.

Senior Erin Wallace won the Scholar Athlete Award. Wallace has more than 100 service hours and a 4.22 GPA, both of which are above the minimum requirements for this achievement. Wallace was also able to balance volleyball and beach volleyball, displaying her educational and athletic determination and focus.

The third award of the night was the Allison Huber Award, won by Sopia Rask. This award was another memorial award

given to a student-athlete that has demonstrated the aspects of a great leader.

The Tiger of the Year was given to Athena Carvallo, who has played soccer during her entire high school career. Carvallo is an athletic commit to University of California, Riverside, to continue strengthening her skills inside the classroom and on the soccer field.

Okubo ended the night by expressing her gratitude for all of the athletes at NDB, thanking the parents and staffulty that make each athletic year possible.

NDB continues to lead in the classroom, on the field and on the court.

Student-athletes celebrated for their college commitments

by Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor

On April 25, NDB’s athletic department held its annual signing day ceremony in the Moore Pavilion. Surrounded by family, friends and coaches, four seniors signed their letters of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level.

The athletes included Melanie Castelli, who committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for track and field, Alexa Couto, who committed to Concordia University for softball, Athena Carvallo, who committed to the University of California, Riverside for soccer and Ashna Tumu-

luri, who committed to the University of Pennsylvania for squash.

Each college commit delivered a heartfelt speech to show appreciation to their loved ones and all those who have contributed to their success.

For these athletes, the journey to this signing table was not necessarily always easy. It took time and dedication to continuously improve in their sport and persist through the many obstacles.

“There were times when I was injured or struggling mentally with the game,” said Couto.

“But once I realized that I had the mental, physical

and emotional ability, I realized that I could play in college.”

All four athletes have been playing and improving in their respective sports for years, so it is fulfilling for them to see their work pay off.

“I’ve been playing soccer for 13 years, so it’s really exciting for me to be able to reach my goal of playing at the next level,” said Carvallo. “I can’t wait to see where it takes me”

The signing ceremony helped to celebrate all these NDB athletes have accomplished and their bright futures as they continue their passion for athletics in college.

Q&A: Athletics Director Christina Okubo

The Catalyst (TC): What changes have you implemented this year to the program?

Christina Okubo (CO): The challenge with taking on any new position your first year is that you don’t want to implement changes too fast. I am really trying to implement more policy because COVID changed a lot of things.

I saw a lot of challenges with commitment levels and attendance issues, things like that. So part of what I want to implement this upcoming year is adding policies to really hold the student athletes more accountable.

TC: What do you hope to achieve next year?

CO: Something that I’d ultimately like to achieve for year two is really making sure that we prioritize the importance of good sportsmanship and implement in our coaching philosophy the importance of positivity and good character in sports. As the Athletic Director, I notice that there is an overarching problem in youth sports that many athletes (and parents) have difficulty dealing with losing and winning at all costs. I think we need to re-emphasize the important values like being a good teammate and taking pride in representing your school community, regardless of the outcome of the game.

TC: How would you describe the sport philosophy of NDB and the student-athletes here?

CO: My philosophy is that the experience of being a student athlete, representing your school, is not all about winning. It’s about

the process of how to achieve success which doesn’t always come in the form of a win. It’s taking baby steps to improvement. I want to encourage our student athletes to overcome adversity and achieve success through their experiences in education-based athletics which in turn translates to what happens in life. My motto for the athletic program is to help student athletes realize that “everything that happens in sport happens in life and to trust the process.”

TC: What is your most valued memory from the past year as first-time NDB Athletic Director?

CO: The college signing day ended up being a really great celebration. That actually might be one of my best memories right now because we had such a great turnout of parents, students, faculty members and coaches that came out. The students all gave great speeches and it was just a really nice way to honor them.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST NDB student-athletes were honored with plaques for their accomplishments for their various sports.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NDB COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

The four senior student-athletes celebrate their athletic collegiate commitments in the Moore Pavilion.

Academic Awards Night recognizes this year’s student accomplishments

by Ava Marinos Opinion Co-Editor

On May 17, NDB designated a special ceremony to celebrate the successes of high achieving NDB students.

NDB held its annual Academic Awards ceremony to celebrate the academic achievements of the student body across various classes. The ceremony awarded students in classes across each department including English, Kinesiology, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences and Visual and Performing Arts.

Other awards included the Michelle Michelleti Award, the Frank Reyerson Scholarship, the Head of School Award, the St. Julie Billiart Awards, among various other achievements and forms of recognition. Rising seniors were also offered scholar-

ships to colleges, such as the University of Rochester, if they chose to attend, exemplifying their scholastic achievements in areas pertaining to math, science, and technology. The awards towards the end of the ceremony were primarily geared towards seniors, honoring them with cords to wear for their graduation.

The valedictorian, Ariel Lucas, and salutatorians, Eva Nichter and Kristi Xia, were announced as well.

When asked about her feelings on earning the achievement of valedictorian, Lucas shared her sentiments post-ceremony.

“I cannot believe it. It’s very surreal,” says Ariel Lucas. “I’m grateful and very thankful for Notre Dame’s support these past four years, and for my classmates and teachers.”

This year, more awards were offered to the students that surprised those who received them, as they did not expect such distinguished and honorable accolades to be handed out in addition to the department awards.

“I thought that it was just going to be the department awards this year,” says senior Clarissa Wing.

“I was really happy to receive the St. Julie Billiart Scholar Award for Humanities. Thank you to all of my teachers who have supported me throughout this process. I am just very grateful to receive this award and I feel very honored. It was a very nice surprise.”

With the amount of awards offered, there were plenty of opportunities for students to get acknowledged for their success over the course of the year.

New Class Presidents share future plans

“I was surprised with how many awards there were,” says senior Ella Chatterjee. “I was so grateful that so many people could be recognized for all of their achievements.

I got the Outstanding Achievement Award in AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics, but I had no idea about the St. Julie Billiart Awards which I received in computer science.” The ceremony was a special way to honor each student’s passion, hard work, and dedication to academics. Whether that be in the form of a medal, certificate, or scholarship, students felt like their hard work over the course of the past year paid off, and that they are ending the school year off with a token of gratitude.

Upperclassmen take on Prom 2023

by Mia Muzzi Managing Editor

On Saturday April 27, upperclassmen attended their prom in the Grand Bay Hotel in Redwood City. The night was planned by the senior student council with the help of Senior Class Coordinators Mirna Yao and Kate Mahoney. The official planning for the event began in early December, but it was not until February 27 that the theme was announced as “Hollywood.” This gave the Tigers two months to get ready for their special night.

In the months approaching prom, students searched for the perfect dress, created promposals and booked any and all appointments necessary for the night. After much anticipation, the day finally came and students arrived with dates promptly at 7:00 p.m.. Senior student council members had arrived at the hotel earlier that day with an assortment of decorations including a red carpet, gold stars, miniature Oscars and a Hollywood sign, in an effort to fully encapsulate the Hollywood theme for their classmates.

Guidance Counselor Allan Gargaritano took to the stage and spent the night as DJ. Throughout the week leading up to prom, students were encouraged to suggest their favorite songs so that they would be played on the dance floor. Gargaritano took all song recommendations into consideration as well as integrated some of his own music into the mix.

“I was really excited for prom and it exceeded my expectations,” said junior Ella Mahon. “It was a really great night and I’m so happy I got to spend it with my friends. The music was super fun and the DJ kept everyone engaged and having fun.”

In addition to the music, students were invited to enjoy the assortment of food and drinks provided by the hotel. Tacos and sliders were among the most popular dishes, but many attendees relayed that the ice cream sundae bar was their favorite addition.

The photo booths also remained very popular throughout the night as there was always a line of students waiting for their turn. With so many props

available, many chose to capture the night posing with their friends in front of the shimmering backdrop.

“I had a great experience at prom, the food and dessert were great and I enjoyed dancing to the music,” said junior Audrey Tang. “My friends and I stayed the entire time, taking a lot of pictures at the photo booth and dancing.”

Although many aspects of prom remained the same, this year the senior student council incorporated a new tradition, Prom Royalty, into the night’s festivities. Voted on by the upperclassmen via Google Form, NDB’s Prom Prince, Princess, King and Queen were announced at

Throughout the beginning of May, the Sharks, Monarchs and Dragons voted on the 2023-2024 class councils. Class councils, consisting of seven members, are responsible for organizing their class’ activities. The Catalyst asked each class president what their goals are for the upcoming year.

the dance. Seniors Sophia Rask, Olivia Vandeveld, Owen Callahan and Ross Muchnick were the four students selected and each was given a crown as part of their victory.

“Even though planning prom felt like an extremely long process, it was super rewarding to see everyone have such a fun time at prom itself,” said Senior Class President Monique Samson. “Since it’s my last year at NDB, I wanted to plan something special for both the junior and senior class to look forward to.”

This was the last prom for the Wildcats, however the Dragons are already anticipating next year’s prom, scheduled for May 4, 2024.

“I am really excited to be president again because I was able to start my freshman year in that role and I now can continue with the same momentum I had last year. There is so much that I am excited to plan for my class and I really look forward to working with all the other girls on the student council.”

Hailey Degnan ‘25

“I am so honored to be Junior Class President for the 2023-2024 school year! Being president is very exciting but I feel that on student council each member takes on the same amounts of responsibility. We are able to collaborate as a team to improve our class and ensure their happiness is being prioritized.”

Cailin Thompson ‘24

“I’m super excited to be the senior class president. I definitely am most excited for planning fun events like senior sunrise and senior assassin. I just want to be able to give our class one last great year before college. Helping our class bond even more than before is one of my personal goals for next year.”

Nelly Hickson ‘26

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

HS at prom.