FOR THE MOREAU
CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY
SUMMER 2016
New Beginnings
Graduations Retirements Personalized Learning Next Steps for Moreau Catholic Athletes the-vector-mchs-summer-2016.indd 1
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PRESIDENT Mr. Terry Lee PRINCIPAL Ms. Lisa Tortorich DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Mr. Christopher Ruetz EDITOR Mr. John Forsyth DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Ms. Jasmine Partida CONTRIBUTORS Mr. Ryan Brusco Ms. Diana (Straggas) DeFrance ‘76 Ms. Monica Lander Mr. Terry Lee Ms. Katie Teekell Ms. Jasmine Partida PHOTOGRAPHERY Ms. Renee Jankowski MOREAU CATHOLIC PHOTOGRAPHY Evan Embrey ‘16 Luke Zakedis ‘16 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Dennis Mastrantonio ‘71, Chair Ms. Barbara Hemenez, Vice-Chair Mr. Eugene Ashley *Sr. Ramona Bascom, OP Ms. Cynthia Bath Ms. Maritza Illario Mr. Terry Lee, President Mr. Rick L’Heureux Ms. Marta Leon Sr. Christopher Miller, OP Fr. Paul Minnihan ‘84 Br. William Nick, CSC Ms. Lois Quilalang Ms. Charlene Raimondi Mr. Ed Raney Mr. Kevin Sweeney ‘72 Ms. Lisa Tortorich, Principal Mr. Quang Trinh ‘88 * In Memoriam THE VECTOR is published three times a year by Moreau Catholic High School 27170 Mission Boulevard Hayward, CA 94544 (510) 881-4300 MoreauCatholic.org
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The Last Walk, for now On May 27, 2016 the Class of 2016 was welcomed to Moreau Catholic High School for a final walk through the school on their way to the Baccalaureate Mass. It is a powerful moment. The halls are silent, the classrooms are dark, and you are walking forward. Summer 2016 3
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A Letter from the President Dear Mariners, Congratulations to the Class of 2016, the 48th group of seniors to graduate from Moreau Catholic High School. As a school community, we celebrated their academic and artistic achievements at our annual Evening of Excellence; we honored their athletic talents at the various team banquets; we blessed them and prayed for them at Baccalaureate Mass; and we celebrated their graduation and the beginning of their next life journey at the Paramount Theatre during commencement. The Class of 2016 is a remarkable group of young women and men, and we wish them all the best in college and in life! You will also read in this issue of The Vector stories about a few remarkable educators that moved on to retirement in May. I would like to thank Petar Zegura, Michael Steeb, Barbara Mangiardi, Donna Boswell, and Ratko “Nino” Grgurevic for their outstanding contributions to the Moreau Catholic community, and wish them a happy and healthy retirement. Innovation in the Holy Cross tradition--started by Blessed Basil Moreau, continued by the Brothers of Holy Cross, and reinterpreted by our educators today for the needs of today’s students. Teach To One (TTO), zSpace, Robotics, Bioprinting, MakerBots, and Engineering are just a few of the innovative programs and tools our students are using to further develop their learning, curiosity, and 21st century skills. Our campus is undergoing several renovations this summer, and we can’t wait to share these newly designed spaces with you in person, if you visit; on our website; and in the next issue of The Vector. These changes and innovations further our commitment to college preparatory eduction in the Holy Cross tradition. Finally, once again I would like to thank the many Mariners and friends who support our efforts each year by donations, volunteering, and other means of support. We would not be successful without you. You are a blessing to us and we deeply appreciate your support and dedication. Peace to you and your families from everyone at Moreau Catholic!
Terry Lee President
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In This Issue p6 Teach to One personalizes math instruction for students with lessons specifically tailored to their individual strengths, learning needs and learning style.
p12 Congratulations to the Class of 2016!
p26 Impressions from a first year coach, by Toni West
p28 Celebrating the many blessings of the Moreau Catholic community, this annual gathering recognizes the contributions of some extraordinary individuals.
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Personalized Learning Teach to One (TTO) personalizes math instruction for students with lessons specifically tailored to their individual strengths, learning needs and learning style.
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oreau Catholic is the first high school and the first Catholic school in the nation to embrace the practice of personalized math instruction via TTO. TTO embraces leveraged technology to personalize a student’s learning path by using an advanced algorithm to identify what students should be learning and how they can best learn it. Utilizing the data from this algorithm, our team of math teachers interpret the data and plan individual lessons for each student. There are eight methods of instruction in TTO, and each one is intended to identify and enhance how a student best learns. Lessons can be taught via live investigation, in small group, peerto-peer, coached virtual instruction, one-to-one, virtual practice, independent practice and then applied in task sessions. Task sessions take place over multiple days, and students use a variety of related skills in real-world application. For example, students might
analyze the costs and benefits of purchasing a hybrid car and use the skills they acquire through this work (e.g., multiplication, estimation, calculating gas mileage) to defend a purchasing decision.
Internal analysis of student assessment data from the 2013-14 school year show that participating students, on average, made 1.5 times the national average growth, as measured by Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) exam. This type of work is a significant part of the Moreau Catholic dedication to applied learning, encouraging students to change the world with the knowledge and skills learned in all areas of study.
Early results from TTO implementations show that this approach has the potential to significantly improve students’ skill mastery when compared to their peers in textbook-based classrooms. Internal analysis of student assessment data from the 2013-14 school year show that participating students, on average, made 1.5 times the national average growth, as measured by Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) exam. Students in New Classrooms’ current partner schools demonstrated, on average, 1.75 years’ worth of growth in the 2013-14 school year. Moreau Catholic is starting the program with students in its Algebra Enrichment course. Data indicates the program most clearly benefits students in pre-Algebra. The long-term goal, however, is to establish a partnership with TTO and develop, over time, programs for all levels of high school math. So what does a typical day in TTO look like? First, students in TTO take
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math in a large, open learning center that looks very different from the traditional 800-square foot classroom. In the math learning center, multiple lessons and learning experiences take place at the same time, enabling students to progress through their personal learning plans concurrently. Students engage with mathematical concepts through multiple instructional approaches or learning modalities: with a teacher, collaborating with peers, or working independently with computer software or a pencil and worksheet. The first thing students do when entering the math center is check their daily schedule on the big boards, where they’ll find their schedule for that day. On the boards, they’ll see what area of the math center they are working in, what teacher they are working with, and the learning modality they’ll use to experience a new mathematical concept. For example, in session one, a student may spend 35 minutes learning
how to factor complex polynomials with an instructor and 15 of their peers in an area of the room called LeMans. At the end of the first session, music plays throughout the learning center, letting the students know that it’s time to move to session two in another part of the room. In the next session, the student collaborates with a small group of students on a series of problems with real-world applications. The students get support from a teacher resident who uses a variety of strategies to encourage discussion, debate, and collaborative problem solving. At the end of their math block, the student logs on to the TTO portal to take a low-stakes, five-question assessment on factoring complex polynomials. Results from this assessment will inform the schedule for the next day and give teachers information about whether they learned the concepts they experienced.
rithms will leverage the student’s results (and those of their peers) to create a unique and customized schedule for the following day. Teachers are able to access all of the resources and information they need for the next day, to make adjustments that ensure a successful student experience, and to substitute with their own teacher-led lessons when they feel it is appropriate to do so. By meeting students where they are, TTO is accelerating learning, deepening understanding, and helping students discover the beauty and power of math. To learn more about the Teach to One program please visit their website at www.NewClassrooms.org
Before the end of the day, New Classrooms’ sophisticated scheduling algo-
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New Beginnings Moreau Catholic celebrated the retirement of long time teachers Petar Zegura and Michael Steeb at this May’s Faculty and Staff party (pictured below). Petar and Michael join Donna Boswell, beloved front desk star for the past 20 years, in starting a new chapter in their lives: retirement. While they will be missed, each retiree has left a lasting mark on the halls of Moreau Catholic.
Petar Zegura, Ratko Grgurevic, Michael Steeb, Jerry Sheets, Bernie Puccini, Kathy Kyle, Yolando Moran, Peter Peabody
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Petar Zegura ‘Find your passion’
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etar Zegura had to keep his amusement in check when a 10-foot plastic cow appeared on the school roof back in 1984. Dean at the time, he handled the situation with authority, calling the police department and asking seriously, “Anyone missing a 10-foot plastic cow?” It turns out the pranksters took the cow from the roof of a local Dairy Queen and it was soon reunited with its owner who wanted to know “Why do you have my cow?” “The hardest part was having to look ticked off at the situation,” Zegura says with a smile as he points to the bovine’s photo that he still keeps on his laptop. Whether grappling with discipline issues, reading essays about “Moby Dick,” coaching a Mock Trial team, or graphing a lesson on supply and demand, Zegura has connected with his students on many levels for the past four decades. It will be the people and those relationships that he will miss the most when he retires this June. “Moreau has been central to my life for 43 years and has truly served as a surrogate family,” says Zegura. “Births, deaths, weddings, graduations, and a myriad of events calling for celebration or sadness have been shared over the past four decades,” he adds. “Retiring after all this time could leave a significant void, but I am looking forward to a new stage in life that will, hopefully, lead to much postponed travel.”
Zegura has had, in essence, three separate careers at Moreau Catholic. Teaching English and creating the honors English program, coaching behavior as Dean, and teaching Economics as of 1999. Although his favorite book to teach in English class was Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick,” and he enjoyed team-teaching “Freedom and Alienation”, a dual English and Theology class, it was his AP Macroeconomics class that he found to be “a significantly important class with real life implications that far transcend academic pursuits.”
“Find something (you) enjoy and are passionate about and pursue it. It doesn’t matter what (your) major is or where you go to school as long as you do well.” The subject of economics, he says, “is much more applicable to someone’s real life than understanding how a cloud metaphorically represents someone’s gloomy mood.” He is particularly proud of his students’ involvement in KIVA, a non-profit micro-lending program that makes loans to people in 85 different countries to create opportunities around the world.
Since 2010 his students have offered about $24,000 in 670 loans to people in 57 countries including Kenya, the Philippines, El Salvador and Peru. The loans are used towards education, health, sanitation, and for the purchase of livestock, water purifiers, and more. The total should hit $30,000 next school year. Seniors in Economics have donated $6,405, which as loans are repaid, will continue to be used to fund future loans. For Zegura, putting lessons of economics to work in the real world is a huge benefit to his students as well as their awareness that “it doesn’t take very much to materially improve someone’s life,” he says. Recognized by the Hayward Education Foundation as a Hayward Hero in 2013 for going above and beyond to enrich students’ lives, Zegura offers this bit of wisdom to his students: “Find something (you) enjoy and are passionate about and pursue it. It doesn’t matter what (your) major is or where you go to school as long as you do well.” “The fact that the Moreau family will still play an important role in my life lets me know that my career has served me well in building lasting relationships,” says Zegura. “Knowing that I have made some small impact on colleagues and students is truly satisfying.”
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Donna Boswell S
Our Hayward Hero
he was the first smiling face that students and parents saw when they entered Moreau Catholic for the first time. She was the calm and gentle voice on the other end of the phone answering the myriad of questions from confused parents and eager students. Donna Boswell retired in April after sitting at the front desk in the lobby at Moreau Catholic High School for 20 years and meeting a generation of students and their families. Boswell and her husband, Jim, became part of the Moreau Catholic family when their oldest son, James ’95, became a student. As Band Parent Club members, the Boswells soon found themselves volunteering for many other school events and fundraisers and were honored with the John A. Raimondi Award in 1996. It was Bernie Puccini who told Boswell that there was an opening for the receptionist position in the main office and suggested she apply for it. “Since I spent so much time at the school already, I figured I might as well get paid. Patricia Geister hired me, and the rest is history,” Donna says. In addition to working in the front office, Boswell, an avid golfer, coached the girls golf team with Kim Capurro and Dave Baptist ’85 for two years. “The students taught me a little about the game of golf,” she says. They told her “to not take it too seriously and enjoy the camaraderie.” She took their advice to heart and says she had a lot of fun coaching. A resident of Hayward for 38 years, Boswell and her husband will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary
soon and also celebrating their move last fall to the city of Ione, where they are settling into retirement. They have two sons, James ’95 (married to Lynne [Herendeen] ’98) and Daniel (married to Jennifer), and three grandchildren, Kallie, Chase, and Payton, with one more grandson on the way in November. “I’m looking forward to being able to spend more time with my grandkids now that I’m not working,” she says. Before she left Moreau Catholic, Boswell was recognized as a Hayward Hero, joining fellow Moreau Catholic family members and Hayward Heroes Petar Zegura, Jerry Sheets and Peter
annual reception and was joined by her husband, Jim, Principal Lisa Tortorich, Vice Principal Katie Teekell, fellow main office employees including Maggi Bender, Kim Capurro, Julie Maroun, and Karen Strawn as well as friends, Jim and Lori Zuiderhoek. “I was shocked when I heard that I was going to be honored as a Hayward Hero and I have to thank our leadership at Moreau Catholic for nominating me,” says Boswell. “It was such an honor to be included with the “Heroes” from all the other Hayward schools.” She adds, “To hear all of their inspiring stories was a very humbling experience.” After all those years at the front desk, Boswell says she “can’t pick out a favorite memory because there are so many wonderful things I loved about working at Moreau Catholic,” like seeing parents’ faces “light up after they finally understand the bell schedules,” she jokes.
Peabody. The Hayward Education Foundation honors school employees and volunteers for their unwavering dedication to their schools. The program was the idea of local philanthropist George Pacheco. Hayward schools are asked to choose a “hero” in their school who has gone above and beyond his or her usual duties in service to the school. Boswell returned to the school in May to receive the award at the
But then there are the memories of “working hand-in-hand with my wonderful colleagues in the main office over the years who are so dedicated to our students,” and “witnessing the amazing dedication of our faculty as they educate not only minds but also hearts, transforming the students into responsible citizens in our world.” What will she miss at Moreau Catholic? “Getting to know all the students, seeing them as a freshman and watching them grow through the years until they graduated,” she says, and “hearing them screaming in the hallways when the last bell would ring at the end of the year.”
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Michael Steeb A
Forever Learning
ccording to Michael Steeb, “If you do something your whole life that you love, you never really work.”
Long after leaving Moreau Catholic, Steeb says he will still be having thought-provoking conversations. “I’ll be at a coffee shop with people my own age doing the same thing… minus the lesson planning and grading papers.” He also hopes to work in the philosophy section of an independent bookstore so he can hang out and talk to people about books and ideas. Additionally he plans to take time to travel the world and visit the many religious places he has talked about in class in locations like India, Japan, Italy, and other European cities as well.
Therefore, he can hardly say he worked at Moreau Catholic at all over the last 33 years. Instead, he was merely clocking his time enjoying the interactions and conversations with his students and colleagues. Looking back to his very first day, he still remembers being impressed by a couple of students who said hello to him as he entered the school as a brand new teacher. Steeb professes a love and passion for Major Religions and sees it as a means to expanding his view of the world. “I felt the walls of my head open up,” he said. It was in this class that most of his students were able to see a world view and look at life differently. He introduced the practices of other religions, including meditation, yoga, and a week of encouraging everyone to be vegetarian. The main focus was presenting each religion in its best light. What Steeb enjoyed most about his classes was his students’ critical thinking and willingness to explore thoughts. “Ask kids to think critically about religions, find answers, and explain ideas. The juniors and seniors were hungry for a class that let them think more openly.” Some of his best lessons, however, happened outside of the classroom. One of his proudest moments happened when he was teaching social justice while the United States was on the verge of going
“Ask kids to think critically about religions, find answers, and explain ideas. The juniors and seniors were hungry for a class that let them think more openly.” to war in Iraq. He and fellow teachers, “with the backing of the administration,” helped organize students in a protest against the war out on Mission Street in front of the school. Broadcast on the Channel 2 evening news, the protest “ethically and morally gave kids a voice to their activism and they learned about practical consequences,” Steeb said. There is “a certain satisfaction in knowing you did what you could to oppose something that turned out negative,” he added.
Retiring and leaving Moreau Catholic at the end of this year and watching his last class graduate is giving Steeb a melancholy feeling, he says, and he admits he will miss the interaction with the students. He smiles when he adds, “They like my sense of humor.” As he and his students part ways, Steeb offers them some advice to contemplate: “Keep an open mind. You may think you know everything, but it’s important to find answers to the existential questions of life. Keep learning and expand your world. Even on the last day of your life, keep learning.”
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Congratulations Class of 2016 As you start your journey, the first thing you should do is throw away that store-bought map and begin to draw your own
Michael Dell founder of Dell Computers
Valedictorian Gabriel Buffey, is headed to Cornell University this fall to study political science. Most proud of organizing and leading this year’s day-long celebration of the school’s namesake, Blessed Father Basil Moreau, Buffey called it a day “dedicated to service and social justice” in honor of the Founder of Holy Cross. He suggests the Catholic Church’s need to emphasize “the relevance of faith in our busy lives” by organizing retreats for young adults and encouraging service. That is what, he says, will keep young adults engaged in the life of the church. “Life is what I make of it,” he says, inspired by Toni Morrison’s, Jazz. “Everyone has the power to find hope and joy.”
Salutatorian Shunyao (Harry) Zhang, will major in film and television production at New York University this fall. Zhang won the Best Foreign Language documentary in the International Student Film Festival Hollywood for his piece, Dancing Towards Happiness. “Engaging media and technology in teaching the younger generation about the life of the church is both enriching and informative, and what the Catholic Church can do to keep youth adults involved.” Inspired by Michael Cunningham’s book and movie adaptation of The Hours, Zhang says it taught him “to cherish my everyday life and live with compassion and aspiration.”
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Academic programs at Moreau Catholic require students to think critically and work collaboratively with a level of rigor necessary to succeed in the demanding environments of the most prestigious colleges and universities. Moreau Catholic students thrive because they are both challenged and supported by a faculty whose mission is cultivate the talent, curiosity and ambition of each one of our students. Moreau Catholic is an environment that celebrates individual achievement, where students find their voice while developing their ability to appreciate and understand the prespectives of others.
Academics
Athetics
Faith Formation and Social Justice
Visual and Performing Arts
• • • • • •
• • • •
35 STEAM Courses 3D Printers Bio-Printing Apple Distinguished School Laptop for every student 39 Honors and AP courses
Moral Theology classes Reconciliation Services Christian/Community Service Program Ministry and Liturgy Workshop/In-Service
• • • • •
State-of-the-art, $5 million complex 47 teams in 19 sports Championship Varsity football team 14 out of 19 programs went to NCS Playoffs Boys basketball own back to back league titles
• Award-winning visual and performing arts • UC-eligible course offerings for each of the five major arts disciplines • Largest variety of arts programs offered in East Bay • All faculty are artists in their respective disciplines
“We will always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will notSummer be cultivated at the expense of the heart.” 2016 - Blessed Basil Moreau 18
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YOUR GIFT MATTERS We invite you to invest in future generations of Mariners in their pursuit of a Holy Cross, college preparatory education; nurtured and inspired by a compassionate faculty who provide our students with one-on-one learning experiences. Given the increasing costs of education, mere money alone should not stand in the way of our students in achieving their hopes and dreams of attending a top-tier college or university, and preparing for a rich and blessed life ahead. Your gifts of any amount create opportunity and provide our students with the competitive advantage to succeed while diminishing the need for increased tuition and fees.
A gift envelope has been included in this brochure for your convenience.
Otherwise, please contact: Christopher Ruetz Director of Advancement (510) 881-4305 cruetz@moreaucatholic.org www.MoreauCatholic.org/give
Moreau Catholic 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 Summer 2016 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. 19
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Evening of
Excellence
Each spring Moreau Catholic holds our Evening of Excellence ceremony recognizing students who go above and beyond. This year, over 400 awards were distributed, including Moreau Catholic Department awards, National Honor Society Awards, National Chinese Honor Society Awards, and the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. Several students also received significant scholarships and awards from prestigious universities, partner organizations, and the armed forces. In 1977, the faculty, staff, and administrators of Moreau Catholic established the Faculty, Staff, and Administration scholarships to be presented annually to select sophomores and juniors. Students are nominated by the faculty and staff of Moreau Catholic for these prestigious scholarships. These awards recognize students who work to the best of their abilities, represent the philosophy of the school, and exemplify the positive image of a Moreau Catholic student. This year’s recipients were Sophomores Teresa Kane and Arnoldo Valdivieso, and Juniors Kadija Samura and Mitchell Leus.
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Ryan Sathianathen ‘19 and Jasmine Munoz ‘19, with Joan Lopez and Laura Pessagno, representing the Janet Pessagno Memorial Scholarship
Prior to the Evening of Exacellence ceremony, the President’s Office hosted a very special reception for select scholarship recipients and donors who have made important scholarship funds available to deserving students.
This was his third marathon. He has also run the San Francisco Marathon and the Escape from Alcatraz Race. This year he raised more than $40,000 for the Janet Pessagno Memorial Scholarship at Moreau Catholic. The scholarship was established in 2004 to honor his mom’s dedication to the field of philanthropy, and her renowned generosity. She passed away in 2003 from breast cancer at the age of 61. Tony has raised $107,000 for this worthy scholarship.
Tony Avila ‘83, completed the 120th annual Boston Marathon this past April in three hours and thirty one minutes. He started in 14,300th place and finished in 8,000th place, passing more than 6,000 runners along the route.
Thank you, Tony!
“The amazing support from so many of you serve as my inspiration to get to the finish line,” said Tony.
Kadija Samura ‘17 with Jeffrey Collins ‘90, representing the Robert M. Collins Memorial Scholarship.
Maryann Evangelista ‘19 with John & Susan Mignano, representing the Maria Mignano Memorial Scholarship
Justin Marucut ‘20 and family with Bernie Puccini, representing the Bernadine Puccini Scholarship
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senior highlights J
Johnny Den Bleyker
ohnny Den Bleyker isn’t going to get much of a summer break after he graduates with his class of 2016 on May 29. But he probably doesn’t mind, and it’s likely his bags are already packed for the sunny skies of Southern California. Den Bleyker is the first Moreau Catholic football player to be recruited by the Pac 12 powerhouse UCLA Bruins and will start practice June 20. The six-foot, 200-pound number two long snapper in the country is destined to fill some big cleats being the successor to red shirt senior Christopher Longo, who has played the position for two years. Den Bleyker played fullback and inside linebacker during his senior year at Moreau Catholic and has played center, tight end, defensive end and outside linebacker. He started playing football in the youth leagues at age 7, began long snapping at age 12 and followed his brother, Alex’s, footsteps into the Moreau Catholic program. Alex was also a three-year starter at Washington State and is his younger brother’s inspiration. “My brother was always a good role model for me growing up and long snapping was just another thing that brought us together,” he adds. had to work his tail off every day to get this opportunity.” The proud coach adds, “Every high school football coach should have the opportunity to coach a young man like Johnny Den Bleyker.”
“Being recruited to a Pac 12 school was just an unbelievably incredible feeling for me,” says Johnny. “I get to play in a power 5 conference and compete with the best athletes in college football.” Moreau Catholic Varsity Football Head Coach Andrew Cotter says Den Bleyker has a mentality of never fail. “There is no question in my mind that he will not just go to UCLA to play football but he will excel on the football field and in the classroom “because of his drive to be successful,” says Cotter.
“Football for me has always been a medium where I can just let go and be loose. Whenever I am on the field, the pressures of schoolwork and other obligations are put aside for two and a half hours and I’m allowed to just play,” Johnny says. Den Bleyker says he has not declared his major area of study yet at UCLA and adds, “I’m thinking of studying something with medicine. In general, I just want to be in a field that helps people.”
“Every day while at Moreau Catholic he (Den Bleyker) was working towards his single goal: to get a college scholarship to play football,” says Cotter. “99.9% of the college football players at UCLA are born,” he adds, “meaning they have God-given talents that allow them to get a full ride to UCLA. Johnny is the .1%. He was not born a UCLA scholarship player. He
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senior highlights T
Pricillia Alva
here was no stopping Pricillia Alva when she found her voice. Humming melodies before she could talk, this soprano is off to sing her own life’s melody when she attends Oberlin Conservatory of Music this fall on a full scholarship to study vocal performance. “My ultimate goal in my studies of music is to give hope to those who need it most,” explains Alva. “I don’t want to just sing for the fun of it, I want to be able to go up on stage and have the audience feel what I feel. If there is suffering in the song, I want my audience to be captivated and feel the emotions that I am trying to send with my voice. If it is a jolly aria, then I want the audience to feel so overwhelmed with happiness that they will go out and share that gladness with everyone they meet.” Alva’s abilities in vocal music have given her many opportunities to perform on the largest stages and to learn from some of the best musicians in the country. From performing with the world renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade at Senator Edward Kennedy’s 88th birthday (where she got to meet President Barack Obama) to being a member of the Young Musician Choral Orchestra (YMCO) at UC Berkeley where she has studied with Voice Chair James Meredith, a nationally acclaimed musician and conductor of the Oakland Symphony Chorus. For the past seven years she has regularly performed with this group and been able to learn from many of their accomplished musicians including faculty member David Horn (upright bass) and Bay Area musical director Michael Shiono (jazz upright bass).
Although her family loves music, she is the first “official musician” in the family. Alva did learn that her great grandfather, named Priscillio, shares her birthdate, played four instruments and was “a flirt.” She adds, “Maybe I am my great grandfather reincarnated!” Classical, operatic songs are her genre of choice when performing, but like many other teens, she listens to rock, alternative and reggae.
A member of the Moreau Catholic Honors Choir for the past three years, Alva thanks Choral Director Scott Barton “for challenging me in his class by teaching me how to blend my voice well with everyone else in the choir.” Since entering high school, she has received several awards including the Performing Arts Society award for four consecutive years, and the Pacific Musical Society’s award for the past two years.
“When I get the opportunity to sing, I feel so awake and happy again,” says Alva.
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Mock Trial Only a single member of the team that participated in last season’s California Mock Trial Finals was returning, and much would fall on a young group without much experience.
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W
hen the Moreau Catholic Mock Trial team began preparations for the 2015/16 season last June, it could have taken the approach that this would be a rebuilding year, having graduated a core group of seniors. Only a single member of the team that participated in last season’s California Mock Trial Finals was returning, and much would fall on a young group without much experience. Coach Phil Wilder said that because of this they stressed, more than ever, the importance of being prepared, “The students were called to step up to fill in more than in all the years combined, and they did it masterfully!” The result of their hard work and attention to detail? A fourth consecutive first place finish at the Alameda County Competition and a return to the State Finals in Sacramento where they earned 5th place out of 34 county champions. “The spirit of the team was beyond belief,” said Wilder, “a living, breathing example of effort equals ability.” While it could be said that this was a “team of destiny,” Wilder added, “They made their own destiny.” When trying to determine the secret to their success, Coach Wilder provided some valuable insights. “Their sense of mission and passion, plus a little bit of luck coupled with strength and a closeness that came with adversity. As they gained more experience, confidence, and synergy, it became clear that there was no ceiling for this team and that there was nothing that they couldn’t do.” Wilder, who was recently awarded the John A. Raimondi Volunteer Award, was joined by several other coaches who worked with the team throughout the year, including fellow faculty member Petar Zegura and alumni attorneys
Peter Borruso ’03, Taylor Graham ’03, and Robert Burnside ’73. “As a coach of any competition team or sport, the most important agenda is watching your team improve,” said Borruso. He added that in his three years as attorney coach, “The transformation of character and skills for each individual on this team may have been the greatest leap.” Borusso added, “It may have been a ‘rebuilding year’ but the team goal was the same and with their commitment to each other and the help of so many, they were able to achieve their goal to return to State.”
“The transformation of character and skills for each individual on this team may have been the greatest leap.” Led by senior William Wu, junior Parker King, and sophomores Tanya Saxena, Desiree Nunes, and Arman Singh, these mock trial attorneys sped up the learning process. “Competition by competition they improved methodically, always taking feedback in stride and never being complacent with where they were,” said Borusso. Wilder said that going into the state competition, “We were looking for a way to promote being stronger and fearless in competitions.” The team adopted the honey badger as their mascot, an incredibly intelligent animal that also has the title of “World’s Most Fearless Creature” in the Guinness Book of World Records. In addition to their fearsome mascot, the team was helped by many in the
Moreau Catholic family. Recent grads and former team members came to practices, competitions, and communicated with the team online when they could. Many faculty and staff members helped out as well, lending them support all along the way. “When you take a group of the hardest working kids and combine that with a dash of passion and respect for one another, the only possible outcome is success,” said Borruso. The Mock Trial program was started 11 years ago by Bob Parker, history teacher and freshman football coach, drawing many of its participants from his AP World History class. Fellow Social Studies teachers Phil Wilder and Petar Zegura took over the reins six years ago and were later joined by attorney-coaches James Smith ’97, Peter Borusso ’03, and Robert Burnside ’73. The program allows students to explore and practice law through hands-on activities and competitions sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Building on recent successes in the county and state, the team was recently invited to participate this October in the 2016 Empire Atlanta program, considered to be the best series of mock trial tournaments in the nation. Two years ago, the team competed in the same program when it was held in New York. This June the team will be assisting with the week-long Mock Trial Camp for students entering grades 7-9, helping to mentor potential members of future Moreau Catholic teams. On the last day of the camp, a new trophy case displaying the awards of all the previous Mock Trial teams will be unveiled in a special ceremony. Donated by Caroline Breeding and Sheri Task, parents of Zackary ‘16 and daughter Sydney ‘18.
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Impressions from a first year coach My first year as a coach and teacher at Moreau Catholic has been everything Holy Cross promises, and more. I have definitely experienced a transformation in the way I educate the hearts and minds of students, as well as personal growth in my faith. Stepping into the position after Jack Kennedy, a long time successful coach, I was a little nervous. He was highly respected in the community, had really successful teams, and I know that players sometimes have problems with change.
to go. Even though we did not have a lot of practice time to make adjustments, the girls were playing hard and growing. I woke up that morning with my agenda ready. Go visit dad, head to school, and then head to Northgate High for a win.
At that moment, I understood what it meant to be a Mariner. I am not sure if I would have dived in as much as I did this year if it wasn’t for my dad passing, because this community filled a huge void, and I am sure most have no idea.
As I open the door to leave, my phone rings. It is my sister telling me my dad passed away, and she wanted to catch me before I left. I am not sure what I did after hearing that. But I managed to make it to our game, and watch our team win.
All that nervousness quickly vanished after the first meeting with the players and parents. What a welcoming group of individuals. They supported me throughout the season, even when they might not have known why I was doing something, or how it would work. Their trust in me helped deepen our relationships and have more success on the court. I was so impressed with Moreau Catholic within just months of school starting.
The second day of the tournament, the day was a blur, but I witnessed our girls come through with another win. But after the game, I could not play it off like I was ok. I had a group of parents that received a heart-filled email from Principal Lisa Tortorich letting them know my dad had passed. Why am I even sharing this information? Because this is when I realized Moreau Catholic really is family. The support I felt while going through such a hard time in my life was amazing. A week later at our team retreat, Mr. Landeza took my team through a series of activities and reflection. But at some point, we just sat still while he played and talked.
Well despite my set backs, the team worked harder and believed which helped us finish the season 2nd in the league. We had some wonderful successes like beating Logan twice, and beating Newark Memorial at their place on senior night. But we also had some disappointments, like having players out due to injury, losing some close games during the season, and of course losing in the first round of the playoffs by five points in overtime.
The administration, faculty and staff were all so helpful. The students were full of love, and my team was working hard to get everything I was throwing at them. I was even attending other sporting events in my free time. I was having a blast. We just finished playing some scrimmages, and got done with our first basketball tournament. I was prepared to go into the next tournament focused and ready
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When I stood up, all of the girls gathered around me and gave me a group hug. Not a corny one, but one where you know that people have your back. I lost a significant member of my family, but gained new members.
But most importantly, we grew together. This group of girls laid a strong foundation built on purposeful relationships, trust and support. After the season I was asked to attend a staff retreat, Kairos, and the Holy Cross Convocation. In each of those experiences, I learned more about the school’s mission and my purpose here. It is because of those opportunities, the administration, the faculty, my coaching staff, and my players that I have become a better coach, teacher, and Christian. And for that, I am forever grateful. - Coach, Toni West.
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Next Steps
M
oreau Athletes on their way to play college ball or join a college team in the fall include Oscar Frayer, Terrell Brown, Patrick Sicurello, Chris Hitchcock, Jasmine Austine, Brian Robinson, Ryan Regner, and Johnny Den Bleyker. Oscar Frayer, a national prospect in basketball, announced his commitment to Grand Canyon after Moreau won the MVAL title with their win over Newark Memorial. He will be coached by former NBA player Dan Majerle at Grand Canyon. Terrell Brown started on the Mariner’s Junior Varsity Basketball team in his freshman year and became one of the
top three scorers on the Varsity team this year. He will play Division One basketball at San Jose State University in the fall. Cross Country standouts Patrick Sicurello and Chris Hitchcock will take their endurance skills to the next level when they run for UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced respectively. Jasmine Austin only began playing basketball as a Moreau freshman, but soon worked her way up in ability and skill and caught the attention of college coaches. She accepted the offer to play for California State University, Stanislaus in the fall.
Mariner Football players Brian Robinson and Ryan Regner were stand outs on the field and captains of the team. Regner, starting quarterback for Moreau, will continue to play football at the College of San Mateo. Robinson, known for creating those holes in the offensive line, will be playing football at Laney College. Johnny Den Bleyker, number 2 long snapper in the nation and chosen to play at the 2016 US Army All American Bowl game, signed with UCLA and will play for the Bruins in the fall.
Chris Hitchcock, Patrick Sicurello, Jasmine Austin, Oscar Frayer, Terrell Brown, Johnny Den Bleyker
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Mass of Gratitude Celebrating the many blessings of the Moreau Catholic community, this annual gathering recognizes the contributions of some extraordinary individuals.
Charlene Rasmondi, Dick Smith, Bernie Puccini, Steve Miller, Phil Wilder, Phyllis Moroney, Peter Peabody, Sue Bonin, Betty Escobar.
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tanding before a gathering of dedicated members of the Moreau Catholic community, President Terry Lee opened this year’s Holy Cross Mass of Gratitude by calling attention to the achievements of the honored guests in attendance. “Today we honor individuals who have made an incredible impact on Moreau Catholic through their generous gifts of time, talent, and treasure. They are respected and appreciated and are people we gratefully acknowledge for their commitment, dedication, and integrity,” said Lee. The legacy of John A. Raimondi, who died in 1986 at the age of 47, lies in his leadership to the Moreau Catholic community. He was appointed the first chair of the Board of Trustees by the Brothers of the Holy Cross in 1984. This year’s John A. Raimondi Volunteer Award was presented to longtime faculty member and coach, Philip Wilder. Since joining the Moreau Catholic faculty in 1981, Philip Wilder has personified the characteristics one would associate with such an award. From his passion for teaching social studies to establishing the school’s Cross Country program, Wilder has spent countless hours working to make a positive impact on his students’ lives. Stacey (Raimondi) Ferreira ’86, daughter of John Raimondi, spoke about the passion and interest he has in his students. “As a colleague, I love Phil because he exemplifies the idea of wanting students to succeed and believes that all students can. I am honored that he is receiving my dad’s award.” Stacey’s sister, Michelle (Raimondi) Thompson ’85, echoed the same sentiments. “His passion for teaching is unprecedented. He is a role model for the attributes great teachers possess.”
In 2010 Wilder’s coaching moved from the track into the courtroom where he began moderating the Mock Trial team, which according to him, has been “a commitment of extraordinary time and passion.” Under his stewardship, the Mock Trial team has achieved county and state awards. You can read more about their achievements on page 24 in this issue of the Vector. The Alumni Achievement Award, given for achieving distinction through exceptional contributions to the school community through service to the school, outstanding achievement, service to the community, or service to humanity, was presented to Katia
The legacy of John A. Raimondi, who died in 1986 at the age of 47, lies in his leadership to the Moreau Catholic community. Gomez ’05. Gomez created, and runs, the nonprofit Educate 2 Envision International, which raises funds to give children in rural Honduras access to an education to stop the cycle of illiteracy. Her work has led the way to establish six new high schools and graduating 120 students. In turn, these graduates have started their own schools where they teach adults how to read and write. To learn more about the amazing work of this program, visit Educate2Envision.org
ipate in the annual Student Fundraiser, which supports a special project or projects for the school. During his four years at Moreau Catholic, Garcia raised more than $3,000, far exceeding the average of $600. “Being a student government member, I understand how much funding (is needed for) all the necessary, but extra things that are a part of the Moreau Catholic experience. Putting effort into fundraising helps me know that I contributed to making the Moreau Catholic experience a much more positive one,” said Garcia. He credits his parents for teaching him “the importance of giving back, and I see fundraising as a major way to give back to the school.” This year’s Holy Cross Educator of the year Award was presented to Scott Barton, Moreau Catholic Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music and Paul McKenna ‘83, Moreau Catholic Technology and Media Arts teacher. Finally, the annual Parent Volunteer Award recognizes current and alumni parents who volunteer endless hours of their valuable time in support of many Moreau Catholic activities and programs including athletics, the arts, and student activities. This year’s recipients included Marta Leon, Karen Lawrence, Charles Austin, Carlota Perenne, and Katrina Dyrby. In addition to the honorees, a number of special guests were on hand, including members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, members of the Board of Trustees, and Board Emeritus Richard Smith, who was joined by his wife, Jan, and son, LCDR Ryan C. Smith ’90, USN.
The Student Fundraising Award was given to Alexander Garcia ’16. Each fall, students are encouraged to partic-
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Mariner Waves Jonathan Daniel Yost ‘04 leads Border Angels volunteers through the Jacumba Wilderness located on the eastern flank of California’s coastal peninsular ranges, where they leave dozens of gallon jugs of water in the desert along the high-traffic migrant paths. The “water drops” help save the lives of the migrants trying to cross the border. Since 1994, the water has reduced the number of deaths by dehydration by 500 each year. Border Angels, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization founded in 1960 by Enrique Morones, advocates for human rights, humane immigration reform and social justice. The organization focuses on issues relating to the US-Mexican border, and in addition to water drops, they serve the immigrant population with Day Laborer outreach programs and free legal assistance. Yost, a senior at UC San Diego, is studying International Politics with an emphasis on refugee human rights. He works as an event leader for Border Angels and as a mentor to refugee students seeking college admission in the United States. Additionally, Yost also works to educate members of the public across the nation about the human cost of the US immigration policy and leads members of the media on the water drops. He has led journalists from the Washington Post, New York Times, Reuters, and the UK Guardian in addition to documentary filmmakers. Yost credits the rigorous education and critical thinking skills he received at Moreau Catholic for his success at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), one of the leading public universities in the country. He currently has a 3.98-4.0 grade point average and plans to enroll in the Masters of International Affairs program at UCSD this fall. Brandon English ’12 is busy finishing up his senior year at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California. He is majoring in Theatre and Communication and is an active member of the Glee and Chamber Choirs. He is the Choir Section Leader for the tenors. Brandon recently received a student development grant through Saint Mary’s College and a scholarship through CSU Summer Arts to study Commedia dell’arte in Turin, Italy. He looks forward to performing with the Livermore Shakespeare Festival as an acting apprentice this summer, and to attending Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in the fall. Dr. Wenschel Lan ‘02 was a guest speaker for Mr. Ted Newton’s Chamber Winds class on May 19, 2016. As a new mother, she recently completed her PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, and continues to play music. We thank her for her donation as an underwriter to the Pacific Mambo concert held at Moreau Catholic this past May.
Alumni Ron Proto ‘84 and Amy Bailey ‘89, celebrate the graduation of their son, Joshua Bailey Proto from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Joshua earned a degree in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and plans on remaining in Portland. His family is overjoyed by his accomplishment!
Michelle Dapper ‘99 won an Emmy/ NATAS San Francisco, Northern California Chapter, for Outstanding Achievement On-Camera Talent - Sports Anchor/ Reporter June 4th, 2016. Michelle has worked at KCRA in Sacramento for the past two years, and is celebrating ten years in broadcasting.
Julie (Barr) Wedge ‘88 Julie’s daughter Alexia graduated from Whitney High School in Rocklin on June 2nd. She is headed to CSU Humboldt in the fall to study Elementary Education and wants to be a 3rd grade teacher. Julie and Chris are so proud of her accomplishments!
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Tony Rogers ‘81, and Darrell Choy ‘85
O
n a typical day at the office packed with meetings, presentations, and spreadsheets, Tony Rogers ’81 and Darrell Choy ’85 were rushing into the elevator to get downstairs to the next meeting. In the short, three-story elevator ride, the two colleagues introduced themselves as they would be working on the same team, and quickly realized their Moreau Catholic connection. Before the elevator doors could open they were already swapping stories about Mr. Wilder, Mr. Morneau, Ms. Gee, Mr. Showers, and their memories from band and cross-country.
They are both thankful for many things, including their families, the opportunities they have had to travel, and the ability to explore and pursue their passions. “We’re grateful to be part of companies that believe in giving back to the community and practice a corporate, social responsibility. In addition to our family responsibilities, giving back is an important priority for us,” said Tony. Both men plan to give back to Moreau Catholic and will be participating in next year’s Career Day. Tony continued, “We are fortunate that Cisco provides us with many opportunities and sponsors activities that assist our local community. From a career perspective, we are always challenged to increase our influence and innovation with our teams and ourselves.”
Tony and Darrell have now been working together in Global Procurement Services for Cisco Systems in San Jose for the last three years. When they aren’t talking about work, they still reminisce about their days at Moreau Catholic. Aside from the academics and homework, they both agree that the two things that stand out the most are the dedicated teachers they had and their experiences outside of the classroom. “It wasn’t until we had entered the workplace and had children of our own that we realized that the teaching staff at Moreau Catholic made a difference because of their commitment to us and to our success,” said Darrell. “Understanding the power of integrity, the importance of ethics, and need for responsibility and accountability were something we could see lived out daily. As a result, doing our best and helping others succeed became a part of our DNA,” Tony added.
Having Moreau Catholic as a common link has allowed the two men to not only connect as colleagues, but as fellow Mariners. Something that they both agree upon is that they would enjoy hearing from fellow classmates on LinkedIn and making similar connections. As for the current students of Moreau Catholic, they offered the following advice: “Don’t take yourself too seriously. Enjoy the journey and all the resources that Moreau Catholic provides. This is the time to be bold!”
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Reunions 1971: 45 Year Class Reunion
2001: 15 Year Class Reunion
Date: Saturday, October 1, 2016 Time: TBA Location: Skywest Golf Course Online registration – www.moreaucatholic.org/1971 Chair Needed
Saturday, October 22, 2016 Time: 6:30PM Plank - Jack London Square Chair: Jennifer Wong ’01 jennwwll@aol.com
1976: 40 Year Class Reunion
2006: 10 Year Class Reunion
Date: Saturday, August 20, 2016 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Moreau Catholic High School Online registration – www.moreaucatholic.org/1976 Chair: Eric Dettenrider ’76 ericdett@gmail.com
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2016 Location: Dolores Park – San Francisco Time: TBA Chair: Anna Dykzeul ’06 Anna.dykzeul@gmail.com
1981: 35 Year Class Reunion
2011: 5 Year Class Reunion
Location, Date and Time: TBA Chair: Dee Dee (Howard) Valdez ’81 Deev63@hotmail.com
Date: Friday, July 15, 2016 Time: 4:00 PM Location: Lake Elizabeth in Fremont Central Park Brook 2 Picnic Area Chair: Jennifer Rillamas ’11 jrillamas@moreaucatholic.org
1986: 30 Year Class Reunion Date: Saturday, October 8, 2016 Time: 5:00 PM Location: Marriott Pleasanton Online registration – www.moreaucatholic.org/1986 Chair: Lea (Gambinia) Pecora ’86 lea@wonderfullyhuman.com
1991: 25 Year Class Reunion
MCHS Alumni Cross Country 2.1-Mile Run and BBQ Saturday, August 27, 2016 • Garin Regional Park
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2016 Time: 5:00 PM Online registration – www.moreaucatholic.org/1991 Plank – Jack London Square Chairs: Mae (Reyes) Bustonera ’91 maebustonera@yahoo.com Kathryn (Segarra) Otico ’91 kat.otico@gmail.com
9:00 am - 9:40 am
Registration
9:45 am
Infant ages 0 to 2 years old 50 meter run
9:55 am
Toddlers ages 2 to 4 years old 100 meter run
10: 00 am
Ages 5 and up - 400 meter run
1996: 20 Year Class Reunion
10:05 am
Welcome and introduction of all alumni - photo op
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2016 Time: 5:00 PM Plank – Jack London Square Online registration - www.moreaucatholic.org/1996 Chair: Stephanie (Nethercott) Ubungen ’96 MCHS96ers@gmail.com
10:15 am
Ready, Get set, GO! Actual run
10:40 am
Announce scores
11:00 am
Let the Feast Begin!
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In Memoriam Sister Ramona Bascom, Moreau Catholic Board of Trustee member, longtime Catholic educator and administrator, and Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose, died April 6 at the age of 80. Appointed by Bishop of Oakland, Michael Barber, SJ, Sister Ramona joined the Moreau Catholic Board of Trustees in 2012 and served on the finance committee. A native of Southern California, she was one of six children and grew up on Catalina Island. After graduation from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, she joined the Dominican Sisters in 1954. She received a Bachelors degree in English from Queen of the Holy Rosary College, Masters in English from Holy Names University and a counseling degree and certified counseling credential from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Moreau Catholic President Terry Lee remembers Sr. Ramona’s “great passion” for education, student achievement, supporting and celebrating diversity, and in the budgeting and financial processes. “I found Sister Ramona to be a loving person, mentor, and a person of wise counsel and insight, “added Lee. “She shared many resources from her personal library with me, and was always willing to offer her experiences as a way to help me through decisions and planning,” he said. Sister Ramona spent 48 years in education as teacher, principal and counselor in Catholic elementary and high schools in Southern California. For the past eight years, she was a member of the Campus Ministry staff at Stanford University. She also worked as a coordinator for the Interfaith Sisters of Peace, was a supporter of the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionaries outreach to the Catholics of China, and was a board member for the Dominican Sisters’ Center for Spirituality and Education As a member of the Board of Trustees, said Lee, “she called us all to our role as Catholic school leaders in making an MCHS education accessible and affordable to all students. He added, “She will be greatly missed.” Predeceased by parents Glen and Frances Bascom and brother Steve Bascom, Sister Ramona is survived by her sisters Stephanie Grigsby, Catherine Richardson, Mary Ann Levesque and her brother Tim Bascom.
Alumni Calendar July 2016 July 15 - Class of 2011 Reunion
August 2016 August 6 - Class of 1996 Reunion August 13 - Class of 2006 Reunion August 20 - Class of 1976 Reunion August 27 - Alumni Cross Country Run August 27 - Alumnae Volleyball Game
September 2016 September 10 - Class of 1991 Reunion September 24 - Band Reunion (1979-1986)
October 2016 October 1 - Class of 1971 Reunion October 1 - Class of 2001 Reunion October 8 - Class of 1986 Reunion
November 2016 November 4 - Homecoming November 19 - Alumni Soccer Game
December 2016 December 20 -Young Alumni Breakfast (2006-2016)
February 2017 February 11 - Alumni Baseball Game February 25 - Track Jamboree February 25 - Alumnae Softball Game
March 2017 March 25 - Alumi Volleyball Game
Please keep Sister Ramona Bascom and the following individuals in your thoughts and prayers Clark A. DeFrance Annette Warren Richard Warren Sr. Ramona Bascom, OP Guy Richards
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Gregory Murai ‘81 Margaret Vega ‘86 Marcus Denham ‘08 Paul Flannery Mary Chimienti
Dennis Cande Ann Lydon Eva Richards Kevin James Sellards Marlene Erlandson
For more information regarding these events, please contact our Alumni Program Manager: John Forsyth (510) 881-4308 JForsyth@moreaucatholic.org
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