The Vector - Winter 2018

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FOR THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

WINTER 2018

MUSIC MINISTRY CREATES CD


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MoreauCatholicHS

FOR THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

PRESIDENT Mr. Terry Lee PRINCIPAL Ms. Lisa Tortorich EDITOR Ms. Donna Cumming CONTRIBUTORS Ms. Donna Cumming Ms. Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 Mr. John Forsyth Mr. Douglas Hupke Ms. Colleen Kelly Ms. Christine Krisman Ms. Mary McInerney Mr. Terry Lee Ms. Ann Tabora Ms. Lisa Tortorich STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS Julia Patel ’18 Gabriella Franco ‘18 PHOTOGRAPHY Mr. Timothy Chaparro Ms. Renee Jankowski Still Light Studios

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oreau’s music CD includes

14 original songs, including the title song, Close To You. Expressing a longing for closeness, the tender relationship between parent and child comes through in this song. The desire for closeness, for intimacy, and for loving care is a desire that comes from deep within our hearts. This song gives voice to this longing from the perspective of a child, but what better image can we have of our relationship with God. In its tender imagery, this song reminds us that just as we want to be close to our parent, maybe even one who is no longer physically with us, we ultimately seek union with our loving God. In faith, our spirits sing, …“take my hand, I’ll follow you. I want to be

close to you.”

GRAPHIC DESIGN Mr. Cap Prince

Close To You

I wanna be close to you I wanna be just like you Take my hand I’ll follow you I wanna be just like you I wanna be just like you The spirit within me Branching like a mighty tree Rooted deep in memory Those who came before me You taught me how to love And to trust in what I do To live and laugh to search and cry For all this I thank you I hear your voice within me Reminding me just who I am I see you in the faces Of family and friends

TEDx Event April 17 , 2018 ‘Providence and Promise’ | Moreau Catholic High School, Main Gym

On the Cover

Student vocalists and musicians from the Close to You music CD (l. to r.): Jemima Ohwobete ‘18, Noah Alcayde ‘19, Justin Firmeza ‘20, Joanne Ohwobete ‘21, Kellie Marcus ‘20, and Mary Alamparambil ‘19

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Barbara Hemenez, Chair Rick L’Heureux, Vice Chair Elizabeth Guneratne Darlene Hayes David King ’82 Terry Lee Marta Vera Leon Dennis Mastrantonio ’71 Jan Miller Sr. Mary Christopher Miller, OP Fr. Paul Minnihan ’84 Br. William Nick, CSC Lois Quilalang Char Raimondi Ed Raney Lisa Tortorich Quang Trinh ’88 THE VECTOR is published three times a year by Moreau Catholic High School 27170 Mission Boulevard Hayward, CA 94544 510.881.4300 MOREAUCATHOLIC.ORG Comments or suggestions for The Vector are welcome. You can email us at communications@moreaucatholic.org


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IN THIS ISSUE

5 ACADEMICS

STEM Project to Detect Earthquakes

8 NEWS

20 MINISTRY

WCEA Completes Accreditation Visit

Music Ministry Students Produce CD

31 ALUMNI

Moreau Welcomes Young Alumni

Also in this

ISSUE Letter from the President

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VAPA 24

Christopher Hayes

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Athletic Hall of Fame

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Araceli Berry

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Crab Feed

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Arielle Acosta

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Funding Hopes and Dreams

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Tyler Piedad

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Richard & Barbara Ratto Scholarship

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OUR MISSION

Moreau Catholic High School is dedicated to the legacy and values of the Congregation of Holy Cross and its founder Blessed Basil Moreau. We are a college-preparatory school committed to outstanding achievement. As a community of faith, we prepare our students through academic, social and spiritual learning experiences that form and transform them as they become responsible citizens of our global community.


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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Mariners,

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s we reflect back on Easter and with students and staff taking a well-deserved break, we share our latest version of The Vector, where we highlight some good news, fun events, and cherished memories. School accreditation is a process all educators endure, but few enjoy. As you will read inside, our latest experience was very affirming and did not produce the expected high anxiety. Why? Because our leadership team, teachers and staff prepared for the last two years and we were blessed with an outstanding visiting team. We are all extremely pleased, and proud, to continue our long history of receiving the highest accreditation term possible. Our dedicated educators deserve all the credit for keeping our Holy Cross education at Moreau outstanding, innovative, and student-centered. We also begin highlighting the first graduates of Moreau, the Class of 1969. Next year will be their Golden Anniversary, and we plan to celebrate their 50th in style! They were the original Mariners, the pioneers, the precedent-setters. We share their reflections as we ramp up to their big year in 2019. So many wonderful teachers, leaders, coaches and volunteers have lent their talents and passion for education to Moreau over our history. Two wonderful educators are moving on to new horizons at the end of this school year. Our Principal, Lisa Tortorich, is retiring after 35 years in Catholic education. She has spent the last five years here at Moreau, leading us to higher levels of innovation and deeper levels of learning. We will miss her energy and passion for education, and wish her a happy and healthy retirement. Our Vice Principal, Katie Teekell, will become the new Principal of Saint Francis High School in Mountain View beginning July 1. Katie has been a transformative leader for Moreau, serving as Assistant Principal of Campus Life prior to her years as Vice Principal. Her tremendous leadership of our WCEA accreditation process led to our very affirming results. We all wish Katie the very best as she returns to her alma mater and continues to transform students in our Holy Cross tradition. Thank you for all you do to support Moreau and our amazing students! Cheers,

Terry Lee President


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ENGLISH TEACHERS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE WITH ERWC CURRICULUM

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tudents’ academic preparation for collegelevel course work is often a concern for parents. Will their reading and writing skills be sufficient to handle science, engineering, history, or English classes? In the 2016-2017 school year, Moreau’s English Department officially adopted the California State University (CSU) developed Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) for grades 9-12 to help ensure the answer would be “yes.”

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Moreau’s ERWC curriculum includes three to four units per year, each three to four weeks’ long for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. ERWC offers a year-long course for seniors, which is partially incorporated into Moreau’s Essay as Literature semester course. Each ERWC unit follows a similar pattern of pre-reading activities, vocabulary exercises, article reading, descriptive outlining, discussion activities among students and the teacher, postreading and an expository writing assignment. “A big focus with ERWC is rhetorical analysis so students are not just analyzing content, but also learning the craft of writing,” Wainwright said.

“CSU professors were noticing English teacher Samantha Wainwright assisting students. that incoming Students take freshmen were not prepared for non-fiction articles and outline sections to show where reading and writing in college, thus, this an article shifted focus or topic. They might curriculum was developed to bridge the ask themselves if the writer used persuasive gap,” English Department Chair Samantha or argumentative techniques, used a personal Wainwright said. anecdote to draw in the reader, or provided facts as logical reasoning for their argument, she Moreau’s English teachers have each taken a explained. series of ERWC professional workshops for high school teachers to learn about the curriculum “I am a strong believer in learning how to do and how best to deliver it to Moreau’s students. something well is to understand how it works,” The curriculum is aligned with the California Wainwright said. “This curriculum is showing Common Core State Standards for English students how writers write and how they can Language Arts and Literacy. adapt that into their own writing. “What’s great about this curriculum is that it is very flexible and adaptable to different teaching styles,” Wainwright said. “This leaves a lot of room for teachers to put their own spin on the subject matter, such as replacing the original article around which the unit is based with something different or more current.”

“Moreau’s English Department prides itself on its strong reading and writing program and our ERWC is a prime example of that,” Wainwright added. “We will continue to look for best practices to help prepare our students for college and beyond.”

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STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN STEM PROJECT TO DETECT EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY Tom Bleier with students Sravya Balasa and Gurleen Kaur

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eismic activity is recorded every day in the Bay Area. In early January, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake centered along the Hayward fault jolted many East Bay residents out of bed in the early morning hours. An extensive network of instruments monitors seismic activity, and Moreau Catholic students will be part of a STEM project from QuakeFinder (www.quakefinder.com ) to help record electromagnetic signals when nearby earthquakes occur. “QuakeFinder is trying to develop a transformative technology using electromagnetic monitoring to detect pre-earthquake signals,” said founder Tom Bleier who met with students in January to outline the STEM project. “Our ultimate goal is to save lives by forecasting large earthquakes two weeks to two days prior to the earthquake occurring. QuakeFinder has 172 of its instruments located

throughout earthquake-prone regions, such as California, Peru, Chile, Sumatra, Taiwan, and Greece, for monitoring ultra-low frequency magnetic signals as well as simplified instruments for monitoring air ionization. With close proximity to the Hayward fault, Moreau Catholic High School was a perfect location for one of their simplified instruments. Students have assembled a “Mini Station” kit and found a convenient location on campus to install the air ionization sensors. The task of putting together the kit was completed by students Sravya Balasa, Gurleen Kaur, Sam Zhang and Kainoa Lee. Once installed, these students then can monitor the data collected on the Amazon cloud. “This project not only allows our students to build something by applying various interdisciplinary skills, but they also will be personally involved in something that has the potential to impact the lives of millions


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of people,” said Moreau science teacher Mike Tobler, who worked with students on the project.

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infrared cameras on weather satellites, Bleier explained.

“Science and engineering are all about “The magnetic field signals are very small answering questions and solving problems. and localized, and they are contaminated by There are few magnetic noise from problems in the BART electric trains. “BEING A PART OF Bay Area that are However, air ionization is SOMETHING AS IMPACTFUL AS as devastating as not affected by the BART an earthquake. noise, thus a prime PREDICTING EARTHQUAKES IS Being a part location for installing A RARE OPPORTUNITY AT THE of something the Mini Stations with HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AND as impactful air ionization sensors as predicting was the Moreau Catholic OUR STUDENTS ARE READY earthquakes is a school location,” Bleier TO SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY.” rare opportunity said. at the high school -Mike Tobler These ion sensors are level, and our basically ‘sniffing the air.’ students are ready The electronics collect the sensor data and send to seize that opportunity,” Tobler said. it through wi-fi to the Internet where it is stored “Additionally, our students will be contributing on the Amazon cloud. Moreau students will be valuable data for earthquake prediction able to share their data with other high school research, have access to their own data as well students and be part of an active research as the data collected from other schools – and project that is statewide. are encouraged to use that data for offshoot Moreau is one of five high schools in the East projects,” Tobler added. Bay along the Hayward Fault participating in The students see this project as an extension QuakeFinder’s STEM outreach project, along of their classroom studies as well as a unique with two other locations in the Bay Area. opportunity for them. QuakeFinder is funded as part of a humanitarian research project of aerospace engineering firm “In my physics class, we learn theories but don’t Stellar Solutions located in Palo Alto. have the chance to apply those theories to the real world,” Sam Zhang ‘18 said. “Working on this Tom Bleier and Mike Tobler working with student Sam Zhang. project is a great opportunity to combine theory with practice.” “This project helps provide a reliable method through technology and science to predict earthquakes, which is a great possibility,” Sravya Balasa ‘18 added. “Earthquakes are still a natural disaster that we can’t prepare for,” Gurleen Kaur ‘18 said, “and this project makes predicting earthquakes a possibility.” Research studies have found that earthquakes produce electromagnetic activities prior to an earthquake, including large electrical currents below ground (an increase in magnetic pulsations as the rock stress changes), air ionization, and infrared energy as observed by

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MOREAU COMPLETES SCHOOL ACCREDITATION BY WCEA

Kathleen Radecke ’85 Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Oakland

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N LATE FEBRUARY, a team from the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) visited Moreau Catholic for its accreditation visit. Members of the WCEA visiting team were on campus for three days, meeting with teachers, leadership, parent representatives and board members, while also observing numerous classrooms. “We have done a lot of work since our last accreditation six years ago,” said Katie Teekell, Vice Principal and coordinator for the accreditation visit. “Areas such as communication, community service and service learning have gone from a growth area to one of our key strengths. “Our Holy Cross social justice program and senior capstone have really become one of the highlights of our school programs,” she added. Teekell explained that the accreditation process is now data-driven under what is called the E3 protocol, versus a more narrative protocol used in the past. This E3 protocol for Catholic schools,

started in 2014, aims to “ensure educational excellence.” “This really ensures that when we create an Educational Improvement Plan for the school that it is truly grounded in data,” Teekell said. “This data-driven process is used to evaluate the effectiveness of our instructional program and helps drive program enhancements and curricular development.” The process begins with populating the data library for five core areas of the school, with between 37 and 50 data points for every major area. Each section identifies key strengths and growth areas.


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The data comes from parent, teacher, faculty and student surveys, focus groups, assessments and statistics, such as SAT and PSAT scores. Faculty and staff review the data then write the report together, highlighting key strengths and growth areas for each core area of the school. Every aspect of the school narrative links The WCEA visiting team members. back to the data library and data points. This helps determine where the school needs to improve and dedicate resources before the next visit in six years. “What is really powerful about this process is that we include all stakeholders in the

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community in a variety of ways, through meetings, participation in focus groups and surveys, making the accreditation process really positive,” Teekell said. “We have been able to dig deep in terms of the data review to inform our programs and our growth as a school.” “Many of the programs we have in place now – our Design Studio, our personalized learning program, the growth of our Saint Andre Program, the addition of zSpace and Bioprinting, and the development of a 21st century classroom in our Incubator Space – were all linked to this datadriven process,” Teekell added.

The 2018 E3 Self Study and E3 Visiting Committee Report can be found on the Moreau website under About Us, Accreditation.

SCHOOL-WIDE GOALS As part of the school’s accreditation process, an action plan called an Educational Improvement Plan (EIP) is created and reviewed by the board of trustees, administration and leadership to help prioritize school-wide initiatives moving forward. The school’s EIP will focus on three areas for critical growth: 1. Research and implement programs to support the needs of our increasingly diverse population of learners both inside and out of the classroom. The goal is to provide resources and teacher training for faculty with regard to differentiation in the classroom. 2. Develop integrative and comprehensive fundraising programs to significantly increase alumni, family, and community giving to MCHS.

The goal is to expand Moreau’s donor base to support its growing programs and recently updated Master Site Plan. 3. Evaluate the current schedule to ensure it optimizes student learning and access to a rigorous college preparatory education. The goal is to research and evaluate best practices relative to the school schedule for teenagers.


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SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM AIMS TO TRANSFORM STUDENTS Students Rita Gong, Tyler Mathewson and Anthony Mabalot

In the words of Blessed Father Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, “We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” This is as true today as it was in 1849.

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critical focus of a Holy Cross education is to develop the whole student: heart and mind. In 2018, that means “moving beyond learning educational content and helping students navigate a divisive world, find their voice, be agents of positive change, and learn how to have civil discourse with those to whom they may disagree,” Moreau Vice Principal Katie Teekell said. “Students across the country are struggling with how to navigate all the information coming to them, particularly from social media, news media and politicians, how to learn from the information, and what to do with it,” she added. An FBI report released late last year indicated that the number of hate crimes increased for a second consecutive year (from 5,800 in 2015 to 6,100 in 2016), with nearly 6 in 10 targeted

because of bias against the victim’s race or ethnicity. “We all come from different backgrounds and those backgrounds and experiences inform how we interpret the world around us, and shape who we are,” Teekell said. Over the past three years, Moreau administration has collected data from students, faculty and parents as part of its accreditation process (see related story on pages 8 - 9). Analysis of that data resulted in identifying cultural competency and social emotional learning (SEL) as a key growth area for the school’s educational improvement plan. SEL helps high school students develop empathy and coping skills, and cultural competency is part of that learning process.


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SEL helps students learn how to manage their emotions, be kind to others and make sensible decisions so they can do better in school, work and life. “To work together in community, we have to understand everyone’s stories and show empathy for others,” Teekell said.

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In Toni West’s psychology class, for example, students are asked to look at their personal experiences through an expanded worldview, so they not only hear other viewpoints but also seek to understand instead of seeking to be understood.

“Utilizing social experiments from great minds like Jane Elliott, whose life work has been to shift Starting in racial narratives, November, STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO LOOK AT THEIR students the school understand PERSONAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH AN partnered with why we think EXPANDED WORLDVIEW Be the Change the way we do consultants and how we can to implement training for faculty and staff, change our thoughts to be more empathetic programming for the parent community, and to others,” West said. “They learn to look at the curriculum for students to truly incorporate SEL reasons why versus looking at the person, which into the classroom on an ongoing basis. then changes misinformed perceptions and stereotypes.” “The people who have the most contact with our students are teachers and parents so we want In addition to classroom learning, student to provide the training, the support and the activities focused on cultural competency have space for dialogue, conversation and learning included Father Moreau Day (see related story so we have the tools we need to best guide our on page 23). Also, on April 17 Moreau will host students,” Teekell said. its first TEDx event following the social justice theme of Providence and Promise (see related Teachers have had two training sessions and story on pages 14 - 15). the school has hosted two parent workshops. Teachers also piloted their first SEL lesson as Additionally, the Dream Coalition found a unique part of Father Moreau Day, with additional way to promote the rich cultures and diversity lessons planned before the end of the school of the student body with an exhibit called The year. Administration will gather feedback from Pillars of Diversity Galleria. Coordinators of students and teachers on the initial lessons the exhibit, seniors Jemima Ohwobete and before rolling out additional curriculum next Benjamin Jacinto, saw the exhibit as a way to school year. enlighten each other about the many cultures at Moreau, and as a step toward building bridges “We want our students to process the relevancy among students. of issues in the world, feel they have a space to share their feelings, and help them to navigate “The exhibit opened the door to freely ask the information,” Teekell said. questions about our many cultures,” Ohwobete said. Moving forward, time will be built into the Gold Day schedule to provide space for regular SEL “We have an incredibly diverse campus and lessons, with the goal to eventually integrate want to celebrate who we are as a community these practices into daily classroom routines for and share experiences and stories so that we teachers and students. can learn from one another,” Teekell added. Social and emotional learning, including habits of mind, habits of success and attitudes, has already been integrated in the Saint Andre personalized learning program and those skills are applicable across all curricula, Teekell explained (see related story on pages 12 - 13).

“We truly want to make social and emotional learning a part of who we are as a school,” she added, “so in a year from now it becomes part of our culture, and everyone expects those conversations, looks forward to them, and connects in a different way.”

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CHRISTOPHER HAYES LEADS PERSONALIZED LEARNING PROGRAM

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hristopher Hayes is excited about his new role as the instructional leader for the Saint Andre Program. He joined Moreau Catholic as a geometry and algebra teacher in August while also working part-time in the program.

innovative technology and curriculum. Students master content and develop cognitive skills at a pace and learning style designed for their individual learning needs with real-time assessments and teacher mentoring.

The Saint Andre Program is Moreau’s new accelerated personalized learning program that customizes instruction to meet the unique needs of students, allowing them to learn at their own pace.

“Students aren’t focusing on grades but on passing at a pace that works for them, allowing for continued success,” Hayes said.

“Moreau recognizes the importance of the twin movements in education of personalized learning and mastery grading,” Hayes said. “To be able to work at a school that is at the forefront in education with its Saint Andre Program is exciting.” The Saint Andre Program is a four-year scope and sequence of learning using the Summit Personalized Learning Platform and Teach to One Math. This personalized approach teaches to the “jaggedness” of all learners, utilizing

As a foundational subject, math is a great example of the impact personalized learning can have with a student, Hayes explained. “You don’t want a student to move on to pre-calculus if he or she hasn’t understood algebra.” Last year, Moreau introduced the Teach to One Math component of the Saint Andre Program and students made four times more progress on standardized assessments than the national average. Prior to joining the Moreau faculty, Hayes was a math teacher at local inner-city charter schools,


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a business strategist, and the founder of a computer-technology company. After graduating from Stanford University and later receiving his MBA from the University of California-Berkeley Hass School of Business, he worked in management consulting and for several high-tech, start-up companies before founding his own company, Boost Technology. Boost Technology developed a wearable device to help disabled users access computer technology through their head movements. Hayes secured venture capital funding for his start-up company, but soon found that most people couldn’t afford the device. So, in 2001 he formed a non-profit foundation, Give Tech, and through grants continues to provide his technology to those who need it. Following his love for education, he decided to switch careers and become a high school math teacher. After receiving his teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, he taught math at Aspire Public School in Oakland and Downtown College Prep in San Jose. “I saw a greater need in education for those most disadvantaged,” he said. “In the inner-city schools, students are financially, educationally and emotionally disadvantaged. They have challenges not only in the classroom but also outside of school as many were undocumented and come from one-parent families, foster care or are homeless,” he added. After teaching for five years at charter schools, Hayes wanted a change and learned of the Saint Andre Program. He was familiar with a personalized approach to learning as his son had attended a small private high school in Massachusetts where he had one-on-one instruction and flourished, Hayes said. “I saw the power of personalized learning and mastery grading first hand. My son, who had previously struggled in the traditional classroom, was able to get through four years of math content in only two years once he moved to a personalized learning program.” Hayes, who transitioned to his new role in January, understands some of the challenges

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he faces in implementing a non-traditional structure into a traditional educational framework. For example, how will a transcript read for a student who completes a freshman-level course beyond freshman year? What if a student wants to move out the Saint Andre Program into a traditional classroom? Also, as teachers spend less time on lesson planning and more on motivating students for success, they will need additional training. “We have a cultural challenge with students who have traditionally not been successful in school,” he said. “We need them to believe in themselves and be motivated and determined to succeed.” Hayes also is looking at ways to expand the program in the future, such as allowing students to each take only one personalized learning course or allowing “gifted” students to complete course instruction at their accelerated pace of learning. As Hayes has already shown in his career and with him at the helm, the Saint Andre program is destined for success!

“STUDENTS AREN’T FOCUSING ON GRADES BUT ON PASSING AT A PACE THAT WORKS FOR THEM, ALLOWING FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS.” -Christopher Hayes

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ARACELI BERRY TALKS ABOUT

‘CONFORMITY, PERCEPTIONS AND THE ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON BIAS’

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enior Araceli Berry will be one of 15 students presenting on social justice issues of concern to them at Moreau’s first TEDx talk on April 17. Her topic, “Conformity, Perceptions and the Assumptions Based on Bias,” will focus primarily on the psychology behind why people join groups. People join groups, whether gangs, political parties, or sororities, for similar reasons, Berry learned when researching her topic for her TEDx talk. “The basic need people seek is a shared belief to make them feel that they belong to that group and feel accepted by and connected to that group,” Berry said. “I tie in the psychology with why we perceive certain people to be associated with a particular group.” In addition to her TEDx presentation, Berry also plans to talk to middle schoolers from different backgrounds and ethnicities “to teach them not only about ignorance but also about having empathy for others.”

“People make the wrong judgments, like categorizing someone because of race to be associated with criminal activities,” Berry said. “There are a lot of wrong associations and biases because of what kids see on the news, in social media and hear from other people.” Berry sees the TEDx presentations as an opportunity for “students to speak about what they are passionate about and address unique problems of the world that should be fixed.” For Berry, who plans to study criminology and psychology in college, her talk aligns well with her career goals. “TEDx is a platform for students to share their ideas, journeys, and passions, and that is a rare and exciting opportunity,” TEDx event coordinator and social justice teacher Mary McInerney added. “The TEDx videos go online and their shared message has a lasting legacy.”


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TEDx Moreau Catholic HS: ‘Providence and Promise’

Moreau’s first TEDx event on April 17 focuses on the theme Providence and Promise and will feature 15 students whose social justice projects follow this theme. Additionally, alumnae Amanda Aguilar ’09, Marquis Engle and Del Seymour will be guest speakers. Amanda Aguilar is a television reporter in Wichita, Kansas. Her message will be to “find your passion… It gives you all the motivation to succeed…. Go out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, which will make you grow as a person.” Del Seymour is the founder of Code Tenderloin, a job training program for Tenderloin residents, and has led Mariners on tours through the San Francisco neighborhood. He will share lessons from his courageous life journey and offer ways that everyone can bring hope to others through actions and determination. Marquis Engle is the Program Director of Up on Top, a no-cost after school childcare program located in the Tenderloin. Engle has worked with Moreau juniors and seniors at Up on Top.

Student presenters include: Sravya Balasa, Ben Bega, Araceli Berry, Sofia Herrera-Padilla, Benjamin Jacinto, Gurleen Kaur, Damoni Nears, Jemima Ohwobete, Tyler Piedad, Sarang Raj, Nyah Scott, Onijai Sellers, Supreet Thiara, Arnoldo Valdivieso Martinez, and Lucas Zamora. Students will hear some fellow student presenters during the school day, while a special event is planned for parents, family and friends in the evening beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by the TEDx event at 7 p.m. in the Main Gym. The event is limited to 100 persons, so attendees need to RSVP. Admission to this special event is $30 per person. About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

MoreauCatholicHS Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Reception at 6 PM | Speakers at 7 PM Moreau Catholic High School, Main Gym Purchase tickets online at MoreauCatholic.org/tedx

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ARIELLE ACOSTA IS A TRUE “PACE” SETTER

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rielle Acosta ‘18 has signed to play softball next year with Pace University in New York. Anyone who knows Acosta knows that she will take New York by storm as she has Moreau Catholic for the last four years. But Arielle is not the only Acosta to make a name for herself in athletics at Moreau Catholic – there have been Acostas gracing the halls of 27170 Mission Boulevard from 2006-2018, starting with Ashley ’10, followed by Aaron ’12, Antoinette ’15 and finally Arielle. “We selected Moreau Catholic because we wanted our children to be in a safe environment, and where they can learn not only about Catholicism but also about other religions,” parents Mary Jane and Ben Acosta said about why they chose Moreau Catholic as the high school for their children. “We wanted them educated in their mind, spirit, and heart.” In addition to being dedicated Mariner athletes, the Acosta children also participated in band,

specifically percussion. Ashley was a varsity swimmer, ran cross country, was percussion section leader, and a Link Crew leader. Aaron was a standout on Moreau’s varsity baseball team and played two years at Ohlone College. Antoinette was a varsity athlete in swimming and cross country, an active member of student government all four years, and an ASB public relations officer her senior year. Arielle, the final Acosta, is the most outgoing member of the family. She has participated in varsity softball all four years, student government, and, of course, band. She was activities commissioner her junior year and led the rallies with her quirky and contagious sense of humor. While she has excelled in many areas, her true passion is softball. She began playing recreational softball when she was 8 years old, then travel ball in the 10-under age group, and has continued playing every summer since then.


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She said at such a young age, she learned about teamwork and friendships, which later manifested into her learning discipline, hard work, respect, leadership, and about herself as an athlete and a student.

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As Arielle will be the first Acosta to leave the area to go to college, her parents are not worried about her getting home sick or feeling lonely as “it is easy for Arielle to make friends, so we think she’ll fit right in,” Mary Jane Acosta said.

“My brother Aaron “We are so proud of “I APPRECIATED MY FROSH has had the biggest all our children and impact on my softball YEAR ON THE TEAM BECAUSE thankful to Moreau career,” the youngest educating their I GOT TO WORK WITH OLDER for Acosta said. “He minds and their hearts. PLAYERS WHO WERE ABLE TO We have no worries taught me everything: fundamentals, whatsoever that as our MENTOR ME AND HELP ME mechanics and, most children enter adulthood GROW IN THE GAME,” importantly, the mental they will flourish in their aspect of the game. own ways and be happy,” -Arielle Acosta I owe all my softball she added. accomplishments to my brother. He is my ‘go-to’ bro!” For Moreau Catholic, it will be a different experience not having an Acosta on campus, As a freshman, Acosta earned the starting Coach Krisman said. “But, we look forward to shortstop position on the varsity team and has continuing to see the Acosta family at alumni held it ever since. Last year, she earned first events, homecoming and other Moreau team all-league and was a captain on a team occasions. As we tell them, ‘Remember, you are that had no seniors. always a Mariner.’” “I appreciated my frosh year on the team because I got to work with older players who were able to mentor me and help me grow in the game,” Acosta said. “As a junior, I had to step it up and take a strong leadership role.” “We knew when Arielle came onto the team that we had our shortstop for four years and that we had a leader,” Coach Christine Krisman said. “But most of all, we had a hard-working, fun-loving player who brought all the other players up!” “The softball team has been to the NCS playoffs for more than 20 straight years, and it is no surprise with players of Arielle’s caliber,” Coach Krisman added. Acosta led the team to the semi-finals her freshman year, then the quarterfinals the last two years, but she says this is the year “we are going to win NCS!” “It is important to encourage other studentathletes to push through and pursue their sport in college, and know that you can do it and go after it,” Acosta said.

Acosta siblings (l. to r.): front Ashley, Arielle, Antoinette and Aaron (back)

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MOREAU’S SCHOOL MAKER FAIRE COMBINES TECHNOLOGY, CREATIVITY AND STUDENTS’ PASSIONS

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oreau’s School Maker Faire this year, to be held in the Library and Learning Commons on April 18, will continue the “maker mindset” tradition started four years ago that allows students to showcase personal projects for which they are passionate. Some students will have used the Library’s Maker Lab, using equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, Raspberry Pi, the Arduino microcontroller, or virtual reality equipment, while others will share something created at home. “With our Maker Lab, students can channel their creativity in a hands-on manner, taking the power and innovation of technology beyond the screen to create their own models and inventions,” Head Librarian Jessica Simons said. “Then our annual Maker Faire allows them to share their ideas with others.” Some past projects have included a virtual reality game created by senior Ben Bega; remote-controlled model airplanes by junior

Renkang “Ken” Chen; and a Moreau mobile phone app with school events by sophomore Advay Sharma. Sharma’s app won an award from the Office of Naval Research, United States Navy, at the Alameda County Science Fair and he is working with Stratford School in Milpitas on customizing it for their use. Senior Tyler Piedad also has participated in the Maker Faire for the past two years, bringing his passion for computers and electronics to life. “My family bought our first computer when I was only four years old and it opened a world of opportunity for me,” Piedad said. “I have always enjoyed taking things apart, seeing how they worked and repurposing them.” Last year, that meant taking 16 floppy computer disk drives, hooking them up to two Arduino microcontrollers, writing some custom code, and creating music. Floppy disks are the precursor to CD technology. He called his project “Alternative Music – Not the Genre.”


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Piedad explained that the Arduino takes a recently converted a two-wheel drive 1998 music file and converts each note of a song Toyota Tacoma work truck, into a four-wheel into a signal that the floppy drive can interpret drive off-roader. as movement for its stepper motor. When the Last July, he created spreadsheets with lists of motor moves forward or backwards, it makes parts he needed and a sound at a certain a budget of $1,500. frequency. When the “LOOKING AT SOMETHING He then bought code on the Arduino some parts on Ebay, is run and a song is YOU MADE WITH YOUR OWN Craigslist, and at played, the floppy HANDS FINALLY WORK AFTER junkyards, driving as drives create a melody A LOT OF TROUBLE SHOOTING far as Reno to pick for an audible song. up a transmission. Moonlight Sonata by WAS TRULY AN AMAZING He had to modify Beethoven has been FEELING.” the electrical and played using 16 floppy mechanical system, drives. -Tyler Piedad among other Piedad got the used things, to make the equipment for his project from a hardware converted truck work. During winter break, he swap forum, including a crossbow archery case was able to complete his project and recently to house everything. He ordered two Arduinos started restoring another truck from the ground and custom cable terminals and wire online and up. fabricated his own wiring to interface properly Piedad, who plans on studying computer with the disk drives. engineering, sees both his projects as “Looking at something you made with your own opportunities to integrate his passions for hands finally work after a lot of trouble shooting mechanics, electronics and computers. was truly an amazing feeling,” Piedad said. “Our School Maker Faire really allows us to share Not to be confined to computers, Piedad took our projects with others, even if they are hobbies his other interests in electronics and cars and completed at home,” Piedad said.

MCHS MAKER LAB FEATURED IN ONLINE COURSE A makerspace, such as Moreau’s Maker Lab, allows young people to apply digital skills to the real world, explore ideas and make things collaboratively. With Maker Lab equipment, students design and construct their own visual and interactive models of the concepts they are learning in the classroom. Starting in March, MCHS Maker Lab is being featured as a case study in an online course by the Raspberry Pi Foundation titled, “Building a Makerspace for Young People.” The Raspberry Pi Foundation promotes computer science education to schools in the UK and US. Raspberry Pi, a $35 computer, is used by Moreau students for a variety of programming projects. The case study will feature students in action using Raspberry Pi and other equipment in the MCHS Maker Lab through photos and video content. “Through this case study, educators from around the country and beyond will have the opportunity to learn about our Maker Lab and school,” Head Librarian Jessica Simons said.

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LITURGICAL LIFE AT MOREAU CATHOLIC AS A CATHOLIC, HOLY CROSS SCHOOL, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE EUCHARIST, THE CENTRAL EXPRESSION OF FAITH. ALL GATHER AS A COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE CHURCH’S SACRAMENTS, AND TO MARK SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS IN THE LIFE OF MOREAU CATHOLIC.

Art & Environment

Campus Ministry student leaders of Art & Environment are responsible for working with Moreau’s liturgist on thoughtful decoration of the school’s worship space in the Main Gym and the St. André chapel to reflect the

various liturgical seasons and special school events. They care for this sacred space in a special way and seek to make them beautiful, prayerful, and inviting. Students with gifts for visual design or with an interest in creating prayerful environments are always needed.

Eucharistic Ministers

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Hospitality

forms of the Body and Blood of Christ. Through their service, they strive to maintain a prayerful connection to the community and encourage the building of the Body of Christ at Moreau Catholic.

Lectors

Student lectors serve as readers during liturgy, sharing their gifts for preaching through the proclamation of the Word and in leading communal prayers of petition.

Sacristans & Altar Servers

Students involved in hospitality ministry are responsible for welcoming worshipers into the prayer community and creating thoughtful preparations of the Campus Ministry space for social gatherings. Through gifts for building relationships and shaping environments in which all feel a sense of belonging, these leaders create a community where all are truly welcome and they embody the spirit of hospitality modeled by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Cantors

Students use their gifts for music to enrich and enhance the worshiping life of Moreau. There are opportunities for developing one’s voice, prayer leadership, and developing a greater understanding of the liturgy and the role of liturgical music at Mass. Music Ministers just released Close to You, a CD of original songs and reflections reflective of the Holy Cross charism.

Sacristans serve as acolytes during liturgy, assisting the presider at the altar during Mass and helping to thoughtfully prepare the chapel and various liturgical supplies for worship. In both behind-thescenes and participatory roles, these leaders ensure that everything runs smoothly during Mass and help to create a prayerful environment for all.

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moreaucatholic.org Landeza and his musical partner Adrian Mison Fulay, but the album really is student centered. “Our own students do everything from performing the music to singing the songs and designing the CD itself,” Landeza adds. Liner notes inside the CD were written by Landeza, Ann Tabora, director of campus ministry, and Bryan Lorentz, associate campus minister for social justice. “The CD was such a team effort,” Landeza said. “It was Bryan’s idea for me to bring my outside talents to Moreau by highlighting our students’ talents, and it was Ann’s leadership and vision to have everyone participate in the project.”

Music Ministry Creates CD for Liturgies and Retreats

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atrick Landeza might be well-known as a Hawaiian slack key guitarist and recipient of a Hawaiian Grammy award for Album of the Year in 2012, but it is his recent work creating a music CD with Moreau Catholic students that he feels is “the best product I have ever produced as the students make the music come to life.” “Close to You is groundbreaking because we highlight our students with original compositions in the Holy Cross spirit,” said Landeza, Moreau Catholic’s associate campus minister for retreats and liturgies. “Everyone involved in the project is either a student, alumni, teacher or parent of our school community.” “With the CD, we hope to inspire other Catholic high schools for liturgies, retreats and personal reflection,” he added. “Every school has talented kids, you just have to bring out those talents in them.” Close to You includes 14 songs composed by

“When I started writing the music and lyrics, I thought of something catchy that students could listen to and be proud of,” he added. “These are all songs that we use in liturgy, particularly the We Are Mariners song.” We are Mariners true and proud One family we sing out loud Bringing hope to those in need With open hearts and minds We are Mariners all the time Recording the music with the students took six days over summer and the Thanksgiving break. Then, starting in December Landeza spent six weeks mixing the music with the help of a sound engineer in Utah. The official release date was March 19, which was the Feast of St. Joseph, the patron Saint of the Brothers of Holy Cross. “I hope the CD will inspire our singers to compose someday,” Landeza said. “And to remember who they are as Holy Cross and Mariners.” “The CD itself is like preparing for the birth of a child,” the father of five children reflects. “Once the CD is released or born, that’s when is takes life and form. We sing those songs and they become alive. It is truly about how the music moves and inspires us in that spirit that enables the songs to come alive.”


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FATHER MOREAU DAY FOCUS: “ERASE HATE” Father Moreau Day this year had students incorporating the overall school theme of Educating Hearts and Minds with “Erasing Hate” to help unify the school community. Club and academic team leaders led 36 workshops showcasing social justice themes. Workshops ranged from learning cultural dances to creating care packages. The February 9 event concluded with “Be the Change” ice breakers and reflections focused on what the students had learned about each other that day. “Cultural groups were able to share something about their culture and themselves in a very interactive way, and clubs focused on various social justice issues of interest to them,” Director of Student Activities Nichole McGowan said. “All our workshops were powerful learning tools and reflective of our diverse school community.”

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS’ STUDENTS Moreau’s Visual and Performing Arts’ winter performances included: “Winter Solstice: An Offering of Art,” a retrospective of art from students’ visual arts classes; the Annual Band and Orchestra Winter Concert; “Evergreen, Seasonal and Holiday Melodies” featuring honors choir, chamber singers and the Moreau chorus; and a dance showcase, “Finding Home,” choreographed by students.


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Kelly Le - Block print

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Sydney Task - Colored pencil

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Farah Hussain - Graphite portrait

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Maggie Louie - Dry-point Engraving

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Julia Patel - Stencil and spray paint

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Hayden Moses - Digital photograph

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Farah Hussain - Colored pencil mermaid

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Michael Xu - Watercolor

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Maika Grospe - Gouache, and Ink

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This Year’s Moreau Catholic Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees THE MOREAU CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME RECOGNIZES ATHLETES, COACHES, TEAMS, VOLUNTEERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO EXHIBIT OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, CHARACTER, AND LEADERSHIP. THE EMBODIMENT OF HOLY CROSS VALUES SUCH AS RESPECT, COMPASSION, AND INTEGRITY HAVE CHARACTERIZED THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MOREAU CATHOLIC COMMUNITY AND THEIR LIVES BEYOND OUR CAMPUS.

1986

Girls Tennis Team: Coached by

Hall of Famer Ray Breves, the team won the CAL championship and placed third in NCS. #1 singles player Leilani Ruiz made it to the quarter finals in the NCS playoffs. In addition to being league champions, the team was scholastic team champion for the NCS with nine players earning a GPA of 3.6 or higher. This team laid the groundwork for the incredible success of the Mariner women’s tennis program for years to come.

Mark Douglas ’91 (Track) – Douglas was a two-sport standout in both cross country and track and field. For cross country, he was Varsity League Champion in 1988 and 1989, and led his team to the Varsity Team Championships in 1989 and 1990. He qualified for the state meet as an individual in 1988 and led the team to an 11th place finish with his 8th place finish in the 1990 state meet.


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For track, he won the 3200 at the Meet of Champions in 1991 and then placed 6th at the state meet. After graduation, Douglas went on to an outstanding career at the University of California, Berkeley in both track and cross country.

Alisha Flaaten ’06 (Girls Basketball)

– Flaaten is #2 on the all-time leading scorers list for Mariner girls’ basketball with 1,863 points, second only to Hall of Famer Colleen Galloway ’77. Flaaten led her team to three straight undefeated league seasons, an NCS title, and four straight appearances in NCS and the NorCal playoffs. She played four years at Dominican University and set the all-time scoring record there.

Phil Hazelwood ’73 (Track)

– Hazelwood was a sprinter on the Mariner track team, earning second place finishes in the 200-meter dash and back-to-back league titles in the 400-meter dash at the CAL championships, where he also earned a spot to the NCS Meet of Champions. He was the first track athlete from Moreau to qualify for the state meet. His individual records include top times of 10.1 in the 100 yards, 22.1 in the 200 meters and 48.7 in the 400 meters. Hazelwood later ran track and played football at Chabot College.

Peter Peabody (Volunteer 1976 -present) – For more

than 40 years, Peter Peabody has been a shining example of giving to others. A fixture at Moreau Catholic sporting events, he has done it all from helping at practices to announcing almost every sport and alumni game to working playoffs, scorekeeping for basketball and attending numerous events as a spectator and fan. He is known as the “Voice of Mariner Athletics.”

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Peabody says he wants to be remembered for loving and supporting Mariner athletes both on and off the playing field.

Marcos Rios ’96 (Baseball)

– Rios was a standout catcher for the Mariner baseball team during back-to-back 10-4 league seasons, which led to the HAAL Championship in 1996. He was the top hitter on the team for two seasons and led the league in hitting his senior year. Rios earned a scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he had a great baseball career, helping take the team to an SEC title and making it to the Super Regional in the College Baseball World Series.

Dan Squiers ’86 (Football) – Squiers was

a lineman during the Walsh Era, responsible for setting the table for the amazing running backs on the team. He was All CAL, All East Bay, All South County, and Northern California Lineman of the Year. He earned a scholarship to Santa Clara University, where he was a four-year starter, and received First Team and All Conference honors his junior and senior year. Squiers also was a standout Mariner in track as NCS champion in the shotput, and winning the NCS Meet of Champions, which qualified him for the state meet. He held the Moreau shotput record with a throw of 59’ 6 3/4” until the record was broken by Hall of Famer Matt Loggins ’91.

Tim Walsh (Football Coach ’81-86) – Coach Walsh

took a team that was 4-6 to a winning season the following year, then 8-2 and 7-3 seasons and two NCS appearances. He created a positive football atmosphere on campus with students, faculty and alumni. Currently he is the head football coach at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

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49TH ANNUAL CRAB FEED DINNER AND AUCTION On January 27, the Moreau Catholic High School Booster Club hosted the 49th Annual Crab Feed Dinner and Auction. More than 550 alumni, parents, friends and supporters attended the fun-filled evening, which included the return of Dungeness crab as the main course after a two-year absence. This year’s silent and live auction featured some great prizes, including a trip to Cancun, a week’s stay at a house in the Sierra Nevada, a San Francisco 49er jersey signed by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tickets to many of the Bay Area’s professional sporting events and more. All proceeds from the event benefit our Department of Athletics. Make sure to mark your calendar for next year’s Crab Feed Dinner and Auction, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2019.


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FUNDING HOPES AND DREAMS EVENT Moreau Catholic High School hosted its 9th Annual Funding Hopes and Dreams Dinner/Auction on November 16 at the Marriott Fremont Silicon Valley. More than 160 guests enjoyed a delightful evening and an opportunity to bid on fabulous auction items. All proceeds benefit the Trust for Student Support. The evening started with Master of Ceremonies Kathleen Radecke ’85, Superintendent of Schools for the Oakland Diocese, sharing her stories about her time at Moreau. Keynote speaker Guillermo Diaz, Jr., Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Cisco, then captivated guests with his passion for Catholic education and the need to support students who otherwise would not be able to attend Moreau. Carlos Briones ’12 and Mercedes Reichel ’18 concluded the evening with their gratitude to all supporters throughout the years who have contributed to tuition assistance.


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Alumni Parents Barbara and Richard Ratto Establish Scholarship Endowment

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his past November, Barbara and Richard Ratto established the Laura and Diane Ratto Scholarship Endowment both in honor of their daughters and to help “those who might not be able to afford tuition.” Richard, retired from the insurance business, and Barbara, who worked for California State University, East Bay for 42 years, began searching for a high school for their eldest daughter, Laura, when she was a 7th grader. Since Laura’s junior high school was relatively small, only 63 students, they were looking for a slightly larger school but not one that would be overwhelming for her. They wanted a school that offered a challenging curriculum, had a variety of co-curricular options beyond athletics, and would foster their daughter’s growth and independence. To see if Moreau was a good fit, they first had Laura attend a volleyball summer camp to familiarize her with the school and ease her transition to a larger school. The year was 1990. A few years later, their youngest daughter, Diane, enrolled at Moreau and the Rattos have been actively involved as parents ever since. The Rattos said they are forever grateful for the education their daughters received at Moreau – from the quality of the education beyond the classroom to the personal attention from the faculty. In particular, their daughters learned how to take responsibility, work through challenges and obstacles, and broaden their vision of the world. Words such as focused, goal-oriented, achievement, followed by caring

and supportive, are how the Rattos describe the impact the school had on their daughters and their family. The Rattos continue to show their gratitude to the school in other ways as well, by volunteering for the annual Booster Club Crab Feed Dinner. When reflecting back on special Moreau moments, the Rattos recall the time they traveled with the volleyball team to the North Coast Section Playoffs in Sebastopol and the incredible team bonding that took place. The care Laura received from Moreau athletic trainers Terry Moore and Kerrie Gibson was instrumental in her becoming interested in athletic training and working in the training room during her college years. The advice and encouragement for Diane from former assistant principal Simon Chiu to attend Santa Clara University was valued, as SCU ended up being the perfect place for her. By establishing the Laura and Diane Ratto Scholarship Endowment, their Barbara and Richard Ratto hopes and dreams are to provide students with the same opportunities that their daughters received. The foundation for their daughters’ future success was launched during their years at Moreau. Diane graduated from Santa Clara University, worked for YouTube and now works for Google. Laura, who graduated from the University of California, Riverside and received a Master’s degree from San Diego State University, has turned her passion for volleyball into a career as a professional beach volleyball player. She also provided training and seminars for organizations around the world. The Rattos long-term plan is to continue to donate to the endowment fund to meet the increasing demands for additional tuition assistance. They hope that by establishing this endowment, it encourages others to support Moreau. Such an endowment is truly Holy Cross, as they are “Bringing Hope” to those who might not have the means to attend Moreau.


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Reflections from the Class of 1969 The Moreau High School Class of 1969 will reach a milestone in 2019 when the first Golden Diploma Class in school history will be celebrated. It will be 50 years since the first graduating class walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. Even though the actual event will not take place until next year, initial planning is underway to ensure that this anniversary is commemorated as a landmark event for the class of 1969 and the Moreau community.

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he Class of 1969 is a class of firsts. The first freshman class; the first graduating class; the first student leaders; and the first alumni. They are the groundbreakers and pioneers who laid the cornerstone of what now is Moreau Catholic High School. In preparation for and to honor the class of 1969, The Vector will feature “Reflections from the Class of ‘69” as a lead up to this momentous occasion. Members of the class will reflect upon their time at Moreau, with fond memories of influential teachers and mentors and how Moreau prepared them for their future.

Dave Donnan The management team was assembled and the players selected. A site had been determined and the stadium would be built for learning and sports in a year. Brother Fisher Iwasko, Brother Patrick Wagner, Brother Alfred Ladet, Mr. Phil White and Gayle Peachy (Perkey) were put in charge of 110 freshman boys. Their job was to teach, coach, counsel, manage and inspire. This was the family chosen to become the foundation and legacy of Moreau High School. It was 1965 and a tumultuous time in our nation’s history. Change was brewing through a social revolution of protests, riots, marches, music, lifestyle, war, assassinations – and other forms of political, religious and economic resistance were fighting the change. The Catholic Church was changing. The clergy was changing. Brothers had the choice to leave their cassocks and tassels in the closet and wear black suits with white shirts and a tie. The original core leaders of Moreau kept us pretty much neutral and focused on our education. They were dedicated and passionate

about their work. They guided our growth into young men, athletes, leaders and scholars. They led us to the decisions about our school mascot, the Mariners’ colors, the school newspaper, The Log, and the school yearbook, Voyager. Brother Fisher, Mr. White, Brother Patrick, Brother Alfred and Ms. Perkey were there for all of the ‘69ers through the challenges of creating the foundation of an educational institution. We went from three classrooms and a portable office on the Saint Bede campus in 1965 to the new “earthquake proof” building called Moreau the following Fall. The building wasn’t finished. The desks hadn’t arrived. We used one wing, “B” hall, for our classes. There was no landscaping. Faculty, parents, student workers and volunteers laid sod, planted trees and assembled desks when they finally arrived. Today, many of those trees stand proudly on campus. Moreau’s staff and students left a part of themselves not only in the time capsule, but also in the trees, grass, furniture and foundation of Moreau. The teachers, coaches and administrators gave us hope for the future of Moreau. The football field was named the Phil White Field, and the long drive into and out of the parking lot was Iwasko Way. That was our way of thanking two of the people who were so dedicated to the

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students and Moreau High. The original team brought us hope and inspiration. They guided us to respect ourselves and others. The lessons they taught; the sports they coached; the clubs they advised; the personal connections they made were all an attempt at educating our hearts and minds during some turbulent times. Those four years at Moreau bonded us together forever as family.

William Keith Anderson My first day of high school was inside one of the three modular classrooms sitting in the parking lot of Saint Bede’s Church. I had my choice of Bishop O’Dowd, or the new school being built in Hayward. I’ve always been a “road less traveled” kind of guy, so Moreau it was. That first year, Brother Alfred was my Spanish teacher and he became my favorite educator. Brother Alfred had a way of getting his point across without sounding condescending, and always made class an interesting experience. I ended up taking Spanish all four years, partly just to hang out with such a cool teacher. One Spanish class memory I will never forget happened after we moved into the new building my sophomore year. The language lab was state-of-the-art. It consisted of individual work stations, each equipped with its own reel-to-reel tape deck. We would slip on our headphones and work through the taped lessons. Brother Alfred worked from a console at the front of the classroom where he could monitor our progress. He was not amused when he flipped the monitor switch and caught me listening to rock & roll. My sophomore and junior years I had World and American History with Phil White, who

was also the athletic director. Phil had a unique and tormenting punishment for those caught misbehaving. You would have to hand copy page 732, which was the bibliography of our history book in minuscule print. Mr. White would know if you skipped even a couple of lines. As our junior year began in 1967, our facility was pretty much complete. The baseball field and gym/locker room had been in service since we moved in, but now we had a band room above the gym, and the track was ready. We also had three classes to draw from for sports teams. I was on the wrestling team. We played against schools who had been competing for a minimum of three years. We lost every meet that year, but no one gave up. We didn’t have the student body numbers needed for a football program, which was started the year after we graduated. After our last wrestling meet, Mr. White came into the locker room and congratulated us on hanging tough through the season. Then he said, “Now we have to field a track team. I need every one of you to get out on the track tomorrow and find something to do.” I left the tennis team and became part of the new track team. We fielded varsity and JV squads. At the league championships, we loaded up the JV team and won what I believe is the first championship in Moreau history. I ran the high hurdles, low hurdles, and sometimes ran the third leg on the 440 relay team. I taught myself how to pole vault and ended up medaling in the championship meet. 1968 also was the year that the band Santana played in the Moreau gym – the year before they played Woodstock. In 1969 I was elected captain of the band. And, on July 16th, the day we launched Apollo 11 that put a man on the moon, I enlisted in the Naval Air Force. Looking back, I appreciate the subtle grounding I acquired during my Moreau years. Foundations of perseverance, tolerance, and integrity have served me well through my life, through my service during the Vietnam War, and in my 40+ plus years in the telecommunications industry.


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And, it is a great feeling to have been at the beginning of something that has grown and thrived – an institution that has supported and benefited thousands of students, their families, and their communities.

Dan Morrison “The behavior of arithmetic progression depends on the common difference of ‘d.’ If the common difference is positive, then the members (terms) will grow toward infinity…” I met Patrick in 1965 when Moreau High School for Boys opened with three classrooms and a portable office space on the Saint Bede’s school campus. Patrick taught me math for four years, and physics. He was a teacher who made sure his students understood math concepts and content and opened his classroom to any student who needed help, including me. During my senior year, Patrick organized the first Career Day at Moreau. Dan McHugh and I were trusted to be on the organizing team. It was a memorable success. Our reward was watching a special screening of Gone With The Wind in a theatre in San Francisco. I remember Patrick saying, “What a beautiful cow!” when it appeared on the screen to provide milk for Mellie’s newborn baby. His empathy was audible and true. Proof of empathy. Also, during my senior year, Patrick gave me the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I read it then and a few more times since. I was an ambitious and compliant high school student. My life’s journey then was riddled with fear, challenge, and uncertainty. The Vietnam War was escalating. I didn’t want to go. Maybe the book was Patrick’s way of guiding me to hope, or choices for coping. He listened and guided me with questions. Proof of intuition

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and intention. I chose to attend Saint Edward’s University in Austin, Texas for several reasons, one of which was Patrick Wagner. He was an awesome person and I hoped I would come away from Saint Ed’s awesome, too. Proof of influence. I graduated with a degree in psychology in 1973 and returned to California. I was working at Round Table Pizza in Hayward when Patrick called me. He was now working at a new high school in San Ramon. They needed a teacher’s aide, and he wanted to know if I was interested. I completed the teacher’s credential program at Saint Mary’s College and began working at Cal High. Later, I completed minors in math and English at Cal State Hayward. Patrick had set my 40-year career in education in motion. Proof of insight. I left the classroom and became a teacher of teachers toward the end of my career. Patrick was a teacher, and I was among the very first students he taught in his first year. So, if I taught 8,000 plus students and 30 new teachers over a 40-year career, then Patrick’s influence on me is shared with all of them, and the students of all those teachers, to infinity. Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning states: “For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effects of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it.” Patrick’s dedication to teaching and guiding students to learning enlightened me; it brought me happiness and success. I loved Patrick Wagner and my students said how they admired me. Victor Frankl states: “Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities. By making him aware of what he can be and of what he should become, he makes the potentialities come true.” My teacher will arithmetically grow to infinity because he is the positive “d” in the equation, and that “d” is love.

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MARINER WAVES FROM

MOREAU’S YOUNG ALUMNI BREAKFAST In December, Moreau celebrated an annual tradition when young alumni get together to enjoy a festive holiday breakfast with one another at their alma mater. As is the case every year, our alumni are doing some amazing things.

ALEX GALANO ‘17

I am studying at Cal Poly SLO, majoring in civil engineering.

JACK ALCOTT ‘15

I am pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Props to Mr. Tobler’s engineering class!

JUSTIN NG ‘15

I am studying game design art at Cogswell Polytechnical College and am interning at 2K Games.

JEAN HRITZ ‘15

I am a junior at St. Edward’s University and am a scenic artist at Mary Moody Northen Theatre.

KHLOE HEATH ‘14

I’m a graduating senior at Cornell University studying chemical engineering. I’m interested in sustainable energy and design, and am looking forward to getting a job in the Bay Area.

KRISTEN HOWARD ‘14

I’m a senior at Seattle University studying social work. I’m a part of the development team for

the Resource Center for first-generation college students.

UPCOMING REUNIONS Class of: 1983 35th Reunion

Saturday, June 30, 2018 Website: facebook.com/groups/Moreau83

Green and Gold All Alumni Reunion Celebration

Saturday, August 11, 2018 Contact: Ms. Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ’76 ddefrance@moreaucatholic.org

Class of: 1973 45th Reunion

Saturday, August 25, 2018 Contact: Ms. Bobbie (Gasson) Valladon ’73 bvalladon@gmail.com

Class of: 1978 40th Reunion Saturday, November 3, 2018 Contact: Mr. David Amaral ’78 foramarals@comcast.net


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John Dinh ‘09

Works with Self-Driving, Electric Automobiles

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ohn Dinh has taken his interest in public policy and transportation into the emerging field of driverless electric vehicles. The Vector recently caught up with Dinh in the North American headquarters of NIO, where he currently works as an autonomous vehicle operations specialist. What path did you take once you graduated from Moreau? After I graduated, I attended Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont and received a bachelor’s degree in political science, focusing on public policy. I moved to Washington D.C. and pursued a role in the public sector, in government. I worked for Congresswoman Jackie Speier of San Mateo, then through the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began doing campaign work for newly elected officials, and finally volunteered for AmeriCorps before pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of San Francisco. I graduated last year.

How would you explain what NIO does? NIO makes premium electric vehicles with autonomous technology. We are only selling in China right now, but we have six offices around the world with San Jose being our North American headquarters. The major focus is bringing electric cars to the mass market, making them affordable in China, making sure the infrastructure is there and providing people with a path to owning green vehicles.

How did you end up in the transportation field?

How did Moreau help you on the career path that you’re on now?

When I was in DC I found a passion for transportation, so in grad school I focused on public policy related to transportation and infrastructure. In grad school, I also worked at Google, Google X which is now Waymo, during the day as my classes were at night. After receiving my master’s, I came to NIO to do the same job as an autonomous vehicle operations specialist but more at a startup level. I work with engineers on the road with the cars, providing feedback to improve their products. Since NIO is a global startup, I get to help build a team and help the company grow, while utilizing my degree.

What I took from Moreau was not just the academics but being close to my faith and God. I am Catholic and if I’m going to struggle, I will seek God to see how he can help me on that path. When I was in high school, I was more studious and quiet, but by junior and senior year of college I learned independence. While at Notre Dame, I studied abroad in London, which required a big leap to go international and to do a five-month internship – that changed my whole life. The combination of believing in my faith and that God knows what’s best for me, helped me keep my head up and remain optimistic. Faith has taken me where I am today.

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What do you have to say about your sister who is a junior at Moreau? My sister Jasmine Dinh is applying for the CMT role for next year, kind of following in my footsteps. She’s always looked up to me as an older brother and I wanted to leave a good example. I think she’s in a safe place and I look forward to seeing her grow, exceed and go far.

Any favorite teachers and favorite memories from your time at Moreau? My favorite teacher would have to be Mr. Richard Spinelli; he was a great English teacher. Literature was one of my favorite subjects. My favorite thing was being a part of the CMT group and the school masses. From freshman to junior

year being able to witness mass and be a part of it as an attendee, then as a senior being able to take charge as part of a team and lead the mass was a great thing. That stands apart from everything else.

What advice do you have for students who will be going to college soon? I wish I had participated in more activities after school and joined more clubs. I have heard that Moreau has opened more clubs that focus on STEM like robotics. I would have loved to be a part of that because you can carry on with it when you go to college. I think it’s important to be socially active and to help your community, which I’ve done as a part of my path in the public sector. Also find a passion that you like.

Jason Dahlstedt ‘00

Has Spent His Career Working in Radio

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ason Dahlstedt has worked in the broadcasting industry for more than 10 years. Most recently he was the Executive Producer of the Fernando and Greg in the Morning Show on 99.7 NOW. The Vector caught up with Dahlstedt to talk about how he got into radio broadcasting and what he likes about the profession.

What was your path to broadcasting after graduating from Moreau? I started with general communications classes at Sonoma State, but didn’t know what I wanted to do. My friends and I would stay up late, drive around and listen to talk radio, then go to one friend’s house and produce something using his microphones. Six months later, I joined the college radio station – it was the fulfillment of a dream since I had already been pretending to be on the radio. My show was every Thursday at 10 p.m. I wanted it to sound like the radio shows that we were listening to. I played metal and hardcore music and interviewed my friends or

bands that I knew. I would figure my playlist, make my mix-cd and have notes prepared before I hit the studio. I got an internship on the Alice morning show. But at home, my friends and I would do prepodcasting stuff with sound effects and voices on computer audio editing programs. I gave the recordings to Alice radio and they played it sometimes; they thought it was a hoot. The producer really liked me because of my enthusiasm for radio. I completed the internship and was just working there for free because I loved being there. I was able to get a part-time job as an overnight board operator where I


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would just sit at the board from midnight until 6 a.m. and make sure that every song played. It was minimum wage and part time, but I was juiced. I had a job at a radio station! I got my very first on-air job at a radio station called Mix in San Jose. I worked one day a week on the weekends being a DJ – that’s where I met my wife. She was doing news and traffic in the city and would come down to San Jose as a parttime jock, like me, and we crossed paths a lot on Saturdays. The program director I met back when I was an intern at Alice called me one day and says, “I never forgot about you. You made a big impression on me. I’m at this new station called Energy. I have this new morning show called Fernando and Greg and I would love for you to be the producer of this show.” It was a small radio station in San Francisco, but the cool thing was that the fan base was dedicated to it. The station played music that no other radio station played, dance and club music. They wanted to serve the gay community almost exclusively. Two years later, the station went under. I was friends with Fernando and Greg and we wanted to stick together. So, they got an agent who helped them land a job and they brought me along with them to 99.7.

After 10+ years in the broadcasting industry, what do you like best about working in radio? With morning talks shows, you share real-life experiences and connect with listeners in a real way. You have an outline, know the real experience you want to share and how you want to create a moment with the listener, but it’s not scripted…. In general, I just wanted to do radio because it was fun, interesting and different every day, but I didn’t realize there would be these real emotional connections. You want the listener to feel like they’re family, but with that comes these strong emotions that you see when you talk to people and realize the impact you have on their drive to work every day.

Where do you see your career going down the road? I love working with the on-air personalities, getting to know them, listening to what

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they have to offer and how they can make a connection with the listener. In the future, I would like to do talent development where you craft morning shows and work with talent to help them get the most out of what they offer. I think my strong suit is working with people to figure out how to tell their story on the air and how to create that connection.

What were some of your favorite classes at Moreau; who were your favorite teachers? My theology teacher Mr. Sanchez instilled in me really what Moreau was about. Yeah, it’s a Catholic school. Yeah, you’re taking theology classes about all kinds of religions. But the discussions that he had with his students about real issues like homelessness was really great. He had an open-minded way of teaching. These are the real issues that you’re going to be experiencing in adulthood, and you should be able to think critically about them in an intelligent way, he would say. I also remember Mr. Morneau, the athletic director. He requested me to be his teacher’s assistant. He was just the funniest, nicest guy to be around. I loved hanging out with him. He always wanted to make people laugh. Even if he didn’t know you that well, he would pick out a fun little personality trait of you, highlight it and try to make people laugh. He was a really, really nice guy.

What advice would you give to current students on their next steps after high school? My advice would be just to take a risk, like I was just driving around listening to talk radio shows with my friends and decided to try that. I didn’t know I wanted to do radio when I was in high school, or even when I got to college. If you have an inkling that maybe it’s something you like, just try it. What’s the worst that could happen? You won’t like it and you move on to the next thing. I feel like I’m so lucky sometimes because I got to college and wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. The first thing I tried, I really liked. But maybe if I had joined the drama club, or if I had tried out the newspaper I would have liked that too or maybe not. You got to have those experiences. Then, do what you love.

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BEYOND THE VECTOR MOREAU SUPPORTS CARDINAL NEWMAN WITH LENTEN PROJECT Moreau’s Campus Ministry Team led the way this Lenten season with three outreach projects to raise awareness of the needs around us. One project included selling #CardinalStrong wristbands as a fundraiser for Cardinal Newman High School in its rebuilding efforts after the devastating Tubbs fire. EARTHWISE CLUB STRIVES TO ‘BE WISE AND EARTHWISE’ Be Wise. Be Earthwise is the motto of Moreau’s Earthwise environmental service club. The club is busy getting the school’s garden ready for growing vegetables and are looking for parent volunteers. ALUMNUS BRIAN COPELAND PERFORMED ‘NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN’ FOR MOREAU STUDENTS Moreau Catholic alumnus Brian Copeland ‘82 performed his critically acclaimed one-man show, Not a Genuine Black Man, for students and faculty at his alma mater during Unity Week in February. Copeland is an award-winning actor, comedian, author, playwright, television and radio talk show host.

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MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS

Whatever your passion – athletics, campus ministry, visual and performing arts – your planned gift benefits both you and our students. To learn more about including Moreau Catholic High School in your estate plan, please contact Advancement Director Doug Hupke at 510-881-4305 or email dhupke@moreaucatholic.org.


UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO Name:

Phone: Address: Email:

Cut out this form and mail to: Alumni Relations Office 21717 Mission Boulevard Hayward, CA 94544 Or update your informaiton online at: moreaucatholic.org/ AlumniKeepInTouch

3rd Annual

Moreau Catholic Alumni Law Day

The Moreau Catholic High School Mock Trial team is proud to present the 3rd Annual Alumni Law Day – an event to honor and recognize the outstanding achievements by Moreau Catholic alumni in the field of law as well as those dedicated to the success of the Mock Trial program. Awards will be handed out in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement in Law, Excellence in Teaching and Coaching, and Friend of the Court. Nominations for this year’s award recipients are now being accepted. If you would like to nominate someone for an award, please fill out the online form at: www.moreaucatholic.org/lawday The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2018.


27170 Mission Boulevard Hayward, CA 94544-4194 Change Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG US Postage PAID HAYWARD, CA PERMIT NO. 851

M OREAU Catholic High School Golf Classic

Benefiting the Brother Gary Stone, CSC, Memorial Scholarship

SAVE THE DATE

JUNE 25, 2018 Crow Canyon Country Club 711 Silver Lake Drive Danville, CA 94526

For more information, please contact Diana (Straggas) DeFrance '76 ddefrance@moreaucatholic.org 510.881.4330

Register online at www.moreaucatholic.org/golfclassic


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