Mustang Messenger Fall 2015

Volume 22 No. 1

What it means to be...

Modern McNamara MUSTANG MESSENGER

The Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni THEMagazine MUSTANG MESSENGER

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Fall 2015

CONTENTS 4

President's Pen

5

Modern McNamara

6-11

Around Campus Eyes Wide Open: Civil Rights Fresh Faces: Board of Directors BMHS Witnesses Pope Francis

12-13

Academic Excellence The iPad Implementation

14-16

Faith and Service

Mattos Sisters: Service in Baltimore

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Mustang Moments

18-21

Athletic Pride Rising in the Ranks Mustang Fever

22-24

Talent in the Arts Expansion in the Fine Arts

25-29

Alumni News Event & Reunion Information

30

Ways to Support

31

In Loving Memory...

BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL 6800 Marlboro Pike | Forestville, Maryland 20747 (p) 301.735.8401 (f ) 301.735.0934 PRESIDENT/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark '85 PRINCIPAL Dr. Robert Van der Waag

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ISSUE TITLE:

"Modern McNamara"

"At Bishop McNamara, we seek to provide a 21st century renaissance education by being steeped in tradition but always looking toward the future."

~ Dr. Robert Van der Waag, Principal

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

CAMPAIGN MANAGER

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

L'oreal Edmondson '98

Melissa Antonio Huar LR '91

DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL PROGRAMS

Alice Case

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jasmine Johnson '10

Sandy Mammano Robert Nolte

COPY WRITER

Santana Questa © BMHS All Rights Reserved THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

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“Education of the mind will change with the times; how we educate the heart is and will remain timeless.”

-- Blessed Father Basil Anthony Moreau, C.S.C.

Founder, Congregation of Holy Cross

Dear Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Family and Friends, Welcome to another school year! The words above, spoken by the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, resonate for Holy Cross educators all over the world. They resonate at the University of Notre Dame, which emphasizes business ethics in the curriculum at the Mendoza School of Business; through the initiatives in global justice at King’s College, St. Edward’s University, and Stonehill College. They resonate through the commitment and dedication of the teachers and administrators at Lake View Secondary School in Uganda, where a staff of 80 Holy Cross religious and lay collaborators educate the hearts and minds of nearly 800 students in everything from Agriculture to Literature to Computer Science to Religion. Holy Cross educators are witnesses to Blessed Fr. Moreau’s dream of being men and women with hope to bring.

Right here at Bishop McNamara, a place where I often say opportunities abound, our commitment to 21st-century education is grounded deeply in the mission and values of Holy Cross. In this edition of the Mustang Messenger, entitled “Modern McNamara,” you will learn that today we offer more than 170 courses in a wide range of academic disciplines. In this 20152016 school year we are now a fully-integrated iPad® one-to-one school. Additionally, we are at the beginning stages of the application process to be an International Baccalaureate World School®. As we continue to modernize, improve, and expand our campus, we also continue to modernize, improve, and expand our programs such as the Alumni Mentoring Program, intern programs, Robotics, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship. Finally, we remain firmly committed to leadership development by offering training and formation programs such as the McNamara Emerging Leaders Training (MELT).

Just as we’ve expanded these offerings to educate the mind, we have also challenged ourselves to deepen our commitment to the formation of the heart. With an even greater pledge to service learning, global justice education, unifying in the spirit of caritas to love and to serve the marginalized in society, and deepening our own faith and spiritual development with the inception of the Holy Cross Faculty Formation program, this school has never been more authentically Holy Cross and Catholic. Bishop McNamara has never been more committed to living and witnessing the Gospel message than it is today.

Enjoy this edition of the Mustang Messenger. I am grateful for your continued love and support of this amazing school and the young people we are privileged to serve. If you haven’t been back to McNamara in even just a few years, we invite you to come home to see for yourself all that the “Modern McNamara” has to offer. You too will discover why I can say so confidently: “There’s no place like McNamara!”

Ave Crux Spes Unica!

Gratefully, in Holy Cross,

Marco J. Clark '85, Ed.D. President/CEO @mustangprez 4

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OVER 60

UNIQUE CLUBS & EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING:

AVIATION CLUB EQUESTRIAN CLUB SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EXPLORERS

CAMPUS MINISTRY

AN INTRODUCTION TO MORE MODERN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING:

COURSES OFFERED

FINE ARTS • 8 BANDS/ENSEMBLES + STRING ORCHESTRA • DANCE STUDIO • STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATRE • EXPANDING VISUAL ARTS • AFRICAN DANCE & MUSIC • FADE PROGRAM

G ERMAN JAPA NESE & ARABIC

ONLINE CLASSES AVAILABLE

170 MORE THAN

DAILY MASS PEER MINISTRY JUNIOR KAIROS RETREAT "MELT" TRAININGS & RETREATS HOLY CROSS STUDENT SERVICE PROGRAM

CAMPUS EXPANSION SINCE 2001 ALUMNI HALL • FINE ARTS & ATHLETIC CENTER

>

HOLY CROSS HALL • MAMMANO FIELD • MEMORIAL GARDEN MOREAU CHAPEL • ST. JOSEPH LIBRARY & MEDIA CENTER SENIOR LOUNGE • TYOKA JACKSON FIELD

iPA D 1: 1 PR O G RA M & T E C HN OLOGY I N TE G RATI O N

{} 20 S P O RT S

IN T H E COMPET I T I V E WASHI NGTO N CAT HO LIC AT HLET IC CONF ERENC E & OT H E R CONFERENCES

M O D E R N McNAMARA TA K E A V I R T U A L T O U R ! W W W. B M H S . O R G

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AROUNDCAMPUS EYES WIDE OPEN:

U.S. Civil & Human Rights ~ Modern Teachings in the McNamara Classroom A dozen students take their seats in the ornate classroom on the second floor. Typically this classroom serves as the location for global studies or Western civilization classes, but this class is entirely different. The bell has barely finished ringing before the students fall silent and the teacher begins her lesson with two words that have sparked heated arguments in politics and the media: Gun control.

Far from wanting to start an argument, the goal of the teacher is that her students debate the hot-button issue, develop their opinions and become more informed on the subject. Students agree to disagree, and learn different points of view that they may never have thought of before.

This class, U.S. Civil and Human Rights, taught by career lawyer and long-standing faculty member Charmayne Sugars-Clark LR ‘85, is one of the classes that the modern world has inspired at Bishop McNamara High School.

“I teach a regular government and politics class,” SugarsClark said. “I saw student interest go beyond how the government works. They wanted to know how government decisions directly affect them, so I wanted to give them the opportunity to debate and analyze current events.”

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

The class size is small, at one dozen students, but every single person participates in the daily open discussion topic before the class breaks into two teams to debate controversial social issues.

“I’m a bit more active in this class because I feel more comfortable; I like the small class size,” said student Mayra Fernandez-Martinez ‘16.

“The class size makes the topics more interesting because it seems more relevant to us,” said student Cole Clark ‘17.

“Pretty much everything we talk about here is relevant to our lives.”

“I have two goals for this class,” Sugars-Clark began. “First, that they be able to understand the judicial system and the Constitution to carry out their role in democracy. The second is that they become active, informed contributors to society and even potentially pursue careers in law. I want them to be passionate about the world around them.”

Sugars-Clark’s background in law helps shape the curriculum and assignments that she gives her students. There is no book for the class, but students use their iPads to read articles and reports on current events and U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

They are meant to read these articles to help them form their opinions debated during class around facts. As part of this class, students follow current events, as does Sugars-Clark, who presents them with a new topic in civil rights current events every class period.

“Mrs. Sugars-Clark asked back in freshman year: ‘Are your opinions based on what your parents think?’” said student Caterra Thompson ‘17. “I want to start thinking on my own rather than just hearing what other people are saying around me.”

“I want to be more informed and more inspired,” FernandezMartinez explained her personal class goals. “I want to be able to advocate and participate more in activism and have a better background and better foundation to be a better activist. Because a lot of times people will go to rallies and not know what they’re rallying for. So I think it’s better for me to be educated so that I can educate others.”

“A lot of times they bring up good comparisons that I hadn’t even thought of !” Sugars-Clark mused when discussing class debates.

Overall, the goal of the class - to inform students and increase their interest in civil rights and current events seems to already have been met. Students enrolled in the class are passionate, driven individuals who strive to make contributions to the world around them as educated, informed citizens.

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BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL WELCOMES ITS NEWEST MEMBERS TO THE 2015-2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leadership Fresh faces of

Tracye L. Burr-Mitchell

Tracye Burr-Mitchell is an exemplary figure of motivation who is bringing her particular brand of enthusiasm to our Board of Directors. A parent of current sophomore Olivia Mitchell ’18 and alumnus Joseph Mitchell '13, Burr-Mitchell has an inspiring dedication to service, one of the pillars of the Bishop McNamara mission. For the past 26 years Burr-Mitchell has risen through the ranks of State Farm Insurance Company; first with being involved in Auto Claims, then being promoted to the corporate level in Field Leadership and Agents. She settled in Maryland in 2000 and was appointed to Agency Field Specialist; currently Burr-Mitchell is a Sales and Marketing Consultant to more than 400 State Farm Agents in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Even with her esteemed and demanding career, Burr-Mitchell is involved with a variety of volunteer positions, such as Program Director for the Prince George’s County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and Chair of the Audit Committee for the PG County Chapter of Links, Inc., as well as her active involvement with Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital Cadette Troop 1491 and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., PG County Chapter. We are confident that her passion and devotion to service will make Tracye Burr-Mitchell a thriving member of our Board.

Brother Harold F. Hathaway, C.S.C.

To further connect the Holy Cross traditions that Bishop McNamara exudes, Brother Harold F. Hathaway, C.S.C. will also be joining our Board of Directors. Currently Brother Harold serves as both Director of Communications and Director of Holy Cross Community at Moreau Province in Austin, Texas. Brother Harold’s educational background is strong in Holy Cross, having received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Edward’s University and his M.S.A. degree from University of Notre Dame. He also conducted his graduate education at Boston College in the Graduate School of Theology and Ministry, and received his M.A.L.S. degree from Wesleyan University. Brother Harold’s career shows a variety of educational positions in both the teaching and administration fields. He has taught classes in both biology and religious studies, and has served as a CEO – President, Principal, Development Director and in a variety of marketing positions. Brother Harold has also coached many athletic teams and moderated student clubs and activities. Thus, he brings a well-rounded academic experience to our Board.

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Thank you to all who have chosen to serve on our Board of Directors – your support is crucial to the success of Bishop McNamara High School.

Patricia Kinney, Ph.D.

Patricia Kinney joins our Board of Directors having already been instilled with the Bishop McNamara spirit through her children Scott Kinney '85 and Jeff Kinney '89. Her background in educational environments is extensive, having worked in a variety of educational capacities over the past 47 years. Kinney is the founder and was a teacher at Kinderlove – a school for young children; she was also a teacher at Broad Creek Country Day School and was the Head of School at Country Day School in McLean, V.A. On the collegiate level, Kinney taught at the University of Maryland, College Park, for 17 years, and also taught courses at both George Washington University and Charles County Community College. But her background is not limited to the academic world; she has also worked for the Federal government in various capacities, such as the Chief of the Division of Family and Workplace Initiatives, Program and Disabilities Coordinator for the Department of State, the Director of Work/Life Programs Government-wide at OPM, and other esteemed positions. Additionally, Kinney has worked as a volunteer for organizations who focus on the care and education of young children.

Cynthia E. Morgan LR '78

Cynthia Morgan is a proud ‘78 graduate of La Reine High School and is an ideal addition to our Board of Directors. Her community work is not limited to our Board; Morgan has volunteered her time at the South County Assistance Network, Inc. Food Pantry since 1996, and since 2012 she has served on the Bishop McNamara High School Investment Subcommittee. Morgan’s background in finance has given her priceless knowledge and experience which she is bringing to our Board.

Since 2010 Morgan has been a Financial Advisor at Finance 500, Inc., where she works directly with clients to help properly plan and manage their finances and set realistic objectives. Prior to her position at Finance 500, Inc., Morgan worked as a Financial Advisor for Ameriprise Financial Services. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from University of Maryland University College in 2007, where she also graduated summa cum laude.

Kirk T. Wills

As if giving Bishop McNamara the two esteemed alumni Portia Wills '06 and Percilla Wills '12 wasn’t enough service to the School, Kirk T. Wills has joined our Board of Directors. His military career of more than 20 years has provided him with a variety of skills and experiences that can help further the Bishop McNamara mission. Wills has served the United States Army in a variety of leadership positions internationally; from Regimental Tactical Officer at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, to Personnel Policy Integrator in The Pentagon, to Battalion Executive Officer in Schweinfurt, Germany, to Battalion Operations and Training Officer at Fort Polk.

In these positions Wills led more than 800 people at one time; thus he knows what policies and practices to enact for the good of a large group, such as our 900-plus student population.

Wills has been awarded with medals and merits such as the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and many others. A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Wills received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University.

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BISHOP McNAMARA WITNESSES HISTORY:

Pope Francis

visits Washington D.C.

September 22nd - 24th, 2015

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Pictures were taken by students and staff of Bishop McNamara High School during their visit to Washington D.C. to witness His Holiness, Pope Francis, during his visit.

S

eptember 2015 marked a historic event in the history of the United States.

Late in the month, His Holiness Pope Francis, known to many as “The People’s Pope,” visited Washington, D.C., in order to deliver an address to Congress.

His Holiness stayed in the nation’s capital for a few days, during which he participated in public events such as a parade in his honor and a special Papal Mass. Throughout many of these events, several Bishop McNamara faculty, staff and students were able to take brief trips into the city to witness the visit with their own eyes.

“Tickets [to the Vatican Embassy] were distributed to us by the Archdiocese of Washington, and there were also a number of faculty and staff who were able to get tickets for the speech at Congress,” said Bishop McNamara Principal Dr. Robert Van der Waag, who was among the faculty and staff who attended some of the events. “It was really a very thoughtful and nice way that the Archdiocese was able to facilitate that.”

The Papal Mass was among one of the first events in which Pope Francis participated. During the mass, which was held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the University Mall at The Catholic University of America, Pope Francis was surrounded by thousands of American citizens, who hung on his every word. Music for the mass was performed by the Papal Ensemble, which consisted of alumni of The Catholic University of America. Among this orchestra, playing the oboe, was Assistant Band Director Francine Amos-Hardy, of the Bishop McNamara Fine Arts Department.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be a part of this memorable and exciting event,” said Amos-Hardy when she announced her participation. “I have greatly appreciated all of the students' support and well-wishes for me for the next two days.”

The mass was held on Wednesday, and Pope Francis delivered his moving address to Congress Thursday morning. The Bishop McNamara attendees waited outside for Pope Francis’ appearance after his address. During which time, some of our students were interviewed by television news crews, and talked about how they felt about the pope’s visit and what it meant to them.

“It was so funny, you’d see people in robes coming out of the exit and at first we’d all cheer, thinking it was [Pope Francis],” Sydney Bowie ‘18 remembers, laughingly. “So when Pope Francis finally did come out everybody started cheering especially loudly.”

“Even before the pope arrived the environment was joyous and peaceful,” said Elaine Greene, Director of the Saint Joseph Program at Bishop McNamara. “When the pope came out on stage we could see him well, however we couldn’t hear him. It didn’t matter – everyone was quiet and entranced by his presence.”

During his address to Congress, Pope Francis addressed many social and political issues. He emphasized the importance of life and harmony in society, and how we should all work to help make the world a better place for our fellows. Pope Francis, as he has in speeches before, made it a point to emphasize that he spoke not just to the American Catholics, but to the nation as a whole, regardless of their religious beliefs.

“I think it’s not a matter of Catholic beliefs, it’s of universal beliefs that apply to everyone in the world,” said David Cobb, Jr. ‘16.

“That’s what I like about Pope Francis’ message: It’s not just about the Catholic Church, it’s about real-world events that are going on right now.”

“I have a tremendous admiration for Pope Francis, his whole emphasis on service, humility and also the idea of mercy as being a key theological idea,” said Van der Waag. “It’s really something that’s resonated with me. It definitely was one of the great takeaways of my life.”

Some of our students were able to get close enough to Pope Francis when he came out to greet the people that they were able to shake his hand. For everyone from Bishop McNamara who attended, it was a moving experience.

“Being able to touch his hands twice and seeing him face-to-face has really opened my eyes,” said Jasmine Dantzler ‘18. “He is not only humble, but he is also such a giving and God-fearing man.”

While not all the Bishop McNamara attendees were able to see Pope Francis face-to-face or hear his words verbatim, all were affected and touched by his very presence.

“Tears formed in my eyes because I knew he was praying for all of us,” said Greene. “He is a man who walks faith, peace and love.”

“All those moral issues that are wrong with the world and his ways of fixing them, I think I can apply those solutions to my own life,” said Cobb. “To help me become a better person.”

“I am not Catholic but I do realize the importance of meeting such a holy man,” said Dantzler. “This moment is one that I will never forget. I am truly blessed for having a chance to meet Pope Francis.”

Pope Francis’ visit triggered many feelings and touched many lives.

Some may have considered his words to Congress controversial, but there is no denying the spirit of inspiration, hope and peace that His Holiness exudes. His message is one that he sends to all, regardless of their faith: That we must live in peace and show kindness to one another – that rather than harm each other into extinction, we should thrive in a happiness shared worldwide by humanity.

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ae ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Tools of the Academic Arena:

THE

iPad

IMPLEMENTATION

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It seems that no matter where you turn these days, someone nearby has a smartphone, a laptop, or an iPad in hand. Whether they’re making a call, texting their friends, reviewing an e-mail or reading over a chapter of the latest thrilling read, it is perfectly clear that technology is advancing.

The use of technology is not limited to simple entertainment. More schools, private and public, are integrating technology into classrooms. Many public schools are doing away with chalkboards in favor of smartboards, which react to touch and help lessons be a bit more interactive for students. Still more schools are requiring that each enrolled student have a laptop to bring to class for note-taking and article review.

Bishop McNamara has always strived to give its students the most modern education possible with the most stateof-the-art tools available. This year marks the preliminary year that iPads have gone one-to-one for all students in the classroom.

“The School has been looking to better incorporate technology in the classroom for many years,” said Matt Buckley '98, Director of Instructional Technology.

“When Dr. Robert Van der Waag came on as principal, he further pushed the initiative set forth by the administration.”

Naturally, as with any new concept, there were concerns about iPad implementation in the classrooms at Bishop McNamara that dampened the excitement of the new possibilities they presented. The concept alone is a costly one, especially for going one-to-one with the iPads.

Students were required to purchase the iPads before classes began in August; the School did not provide them. In order to help students who were unable to purchase the iPads, Bishop McNamara was blessed enough to have generous patrons who donated to the iPad implementation initiative through the Fall Gala.

Cost aside, faculty were enthusiastic about the idea for the most part, but there was, of course, the concern of students not using the iPads for their intended purpose during class. To assume that every single student is going to be paying attention for every second of class is unrealistic. Even without the iPads.

But having the iPads at their disposal is a temptation towards distraction to which students are prone.

“It’s a matter of trust,” said Emily Grice, an English teacher. “I learned very quickly that I was going to have to be on my toes with iPad management.”

The key to ensuring that iPads are used properly in class is a two-pronged approach which combines new technology with traditional teaching tactics. Teachers pay attention to their students during class and monitor their behavior and reactions when they’re using the iPad. Grice pointed out that she walks around the room and keeps an eye on her students’ screens. She has also put rules in place, such as if the students want to use their iPads to take notes, they must use a stylus instead of typing the notes, that way she’s more certain that they’re truly taking notes and not messaging their classmates instead. In addition to these solutions, teachers also make use of the program AirWatch, which can restrict student access to certain programs or websites while they are at their desks. These restrictions can be lifted or increased at the will of the instructor.

“I tell my students to put [the iPads] away when we’re not using them,” said Grice. “If there’s no reason to be using it at the moment, it’s put away. Or instead of having it face up on their desks so that the screen is facing them, it has to be face down so that I know they’re not getting distracted by it.”

Making use of educational apps in class has also been an effective method of limiting misuse of iPads. It helps show them that technology can be used for more than social media, taking pictures and messaging their friends. Many Bishop McNamara faculty make use of the program Socrative Student for quizzes and monitoring student progress.

The program allows teachers to observe student responses to questions in realtime, and view reports documenting their progress to help shape the education of each and every student.

In the beginning stages of the iPad implementation project, there were some who were concerned about certain departments being able to use the iPads more than others; that there were more apps devoted to certain educational subjects than others. There were even some who were concerned that their department wouldn’t be able to use the iPads at all in their particular classrooms.

“All the departments are participating in use of the iPads in some way,” said Buckley. “How each individual teacher uses the iPads depends on their curriculum and creativity. There’s no one department that seems to be using them more than the others – it’s pretty much equivalent use across the board.”

“I use the iPad to project Powerpoint presentations to the class as I walk through the room,” said Jan Steeger, a science teacher. Thus proving that the iPads have also made it easier for faculty to work one-on-one with students, as teachers are no longer as confined to the front of the classroom during presentations.

While all departments are utilizing the iPads in some way, it is admittedly a bit more difficult for more hands-on courses, such as those in fine arts, to put them to use. Difficult, but obviously not impossible.

“I post links to [the students’] Maccess and have them review it for class,” said Mary Mitchell-Donahue, teacher and Chair of the Fine Arts Department. “In dance and theatre, students will use it to record practices and performances to review afterward. It’s not to the degree that we’ll be at ultimately, but we’re getting there.”

“We’ll definitely see more use of the iPads in the future,” said Grice. “It’s an easing in process, learning what apps and resources to use in the classroom, what works and what doesn’t. You have to recognize your learners. I just think it’s going to take some more time and adjustments.”

“It’s a continuing process,” said Buckley.

“The transition is still occurring and it has allowed for me to interact more with the students and teachers. We have these resources available now for our teachers; we need to give them time and allow them to work on utilizing them.”

With or without us, technology is evolving. If Bishop McNamara is going to boast providing students with a modern, 21st-century education, this is an essential step. Students need to know how technology works beyond the social media bubble, and how they can use it to contribute to the world around them.

“The transition is inevitable,” said Grice.

“It’s coming. It’s here. As an education system and being a private school, we need to move forward with integrating technology in the classrooms.”

If you would like to contribute to the integration of iPads and technology in the Bishop McNamara classrooms, please visit our website and review our Wish List. You can help give back to the School and contribute to the modern education of our students.

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BALTIMORE

SOCIAL

JUSTICE,

&

ADVOCACY CHRISTMAS GIFTS featuring Sarah '02 & Rachel '06 Mattos

Winter 2007, East Baltimore.

The sun has set and darkness covers the city. During the day, this particular section of Baltimore isn’t the safest place to be, much less at night. A young woman drives through the streets with a car full of packages. Alone. By no means is this a common sight for East Baltimore, and it seems suspicious to the policeman. He flicks on the red and blue lights of his vehicle and blares the siren as he pulls out into the street after her.

f&s

FAITH AND SERVICE 14

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The young woman pulls over without a fuss and presents the officer with her license and registration. Naturally, seeing all the packages that fill her car, the officer asks her what she’s doing in East Baltimore at this time of night. The woman identifies herself and tells the officer that she is an intern for Kinship Care in the Baltimore City Department of Social Services – the packages in the car come complete with brightly-colored paper to be wrapped as Christmas presents for impoverished children in foster care that she intends to deliver to their families so that the children have presents to open on Christmas morning.

Surprised, to say the least, the officer asks where she’s going, and escorts her to the two homes left on her route.

The young woman is Sarah Mattos ‘02, a graduate of Bishop McNamara who has brought new perspective to the Holy Cross ideals of faith and service. At the time that she made her 2007 Christmas delivery, she had graduated from both Bishop McNamara and the University of Notre Dame, and had entered graduate school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. As part of her internship with Kinship Care, Sarah dealt daily with youth who were living in foster care with their relatives.

“I found out they had no way to get their Christmas presents, so I called Ms. Wockley,” Sarah said, referring to Marilyn Wockley, who had once been the Dean of Students at Bishop McNamara as well as the moderator for the School’s National Honor Society. “I asked her if there was any way that someone could help us to raise money, or anything, and she said that the National Honor Society would do an Angel Tree.”

Sarah contacted the relatives of the foster children and formed a list of gifts they would like, as well as sizes for clothes. Paper ornaments were then made, each with one of the listed items, and placed on a tree in the main lobby for anyone to choose and purchase the item on the ornament.

The School then collected all of the presents for Sarah and two other interns from the program to retrieve and give to the children.

But like many students going through high school or entering college, Sarah wasn’t always certain what she wanted to do for her career.

“I knew that I loved kids,” Sarah explained. “I knew that I liked working with people, so I was thinking about being a teacher.”

But Sarah discovered her calling, what she would truly desire to do with her life, at her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. Like Bishop McNamara, Notre Dame is a Holy Cross school; thus the two schools share similarities but are not precisely alike. Sarah said that, while Notre Dame was not as welcoming as Bishop McNamara, there were a variety of service opportunities provided to students.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Mattos '02 (pictured above in the red scarf ) with her students at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, MD.

abuse and neglect. Later she went on to Family Preservation, where she worked to keep children with parents and relatives whenever possible. Currently she works as a social worker in Baltimore City Public Schools at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School. She goes over behavior plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), sometimes with the respective student, to ensure that their educational needs are being met. On the occasions where student needs are not being met, Sarah will accompany the student to see their teacher to help them stand up for themselves.

“It’s hard because sometimes I’m butting heads with other people,” Sarah said. “But that’s a skill I’ve learned: To advocate, but also respecting other people’s positions and understanding where they’re coming from. It’s a challenge.

There’s so many kids with so many needs, but we must all work as a team.”

Dealing with a student’s behavior issues and advocating for them to teachers and administration is something that Sarah says she learned through her time at Bishop McNamara.

“At Notre Dame I mentored this little girl in the neighborhood,” Sarah said, explaining one of her service projects. “I remember taking her to my dorm to bake cupcakes for her birthday, and I just realized that there was so much more than just teaching. I was trying to help her read, yes, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. To me, I wanted to do something where I could help more than just [teaching].”

“Maybe I’m trying to say that a student shouldn’t be suspended because [what they did] was a function of their disability and it wasn’t their intention, not everybody understands,” Sarah explained. “I think that’s one thing I learned at McNamara, really trying to advocate. A lot of the teachers I had were unconventional. We really examined things that were wrong, things that really challenged what we thought before. So I’m okay if people are upset with me because I stood up for a kid!”

After graduating from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, Sarah went on to work for the State of Maryland in Child Protective Services, dealing with concerns of child

Sarah isn’t the only member of the Mattos family living the Bishop McNamara values of faith and service. Her sister Rachel Mattos ‘06 is keeping busy as a teacher in Baltimore THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

15

while simultaneously attending graduate school to further her education. After graduating from St. Joseph’s University in 2010, Rachel immediately became a Ministry Volunteer with the Sisters of Bon Secours. Rachel spent a year in the Bon Secours program working with teenage mothers and infants. Rachel and her fellow Ministry Volunteers helped the mothers get their GEDs and work towards improving their standard of living. Currently Rachel Mattos works at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore, which is directly in the middle of where the Freddie Gray riots took place this past April.

As they both work in the City of Baltimore, the Mattos sisters were impacted by the Freddie Gray riots. Rachel worked to keep her students safe and even stopped one of her students from participating in the riots. Accompanied by other faculty and staff, Rachel participated in a peaceful march the next day to demonstrate a nonviolent way of advancing a social cause.

Sarah revealed the sad truth that many of the children she works with were unfazed by the violence caused by the riots, considering that most of them live with that sort of violence almost every day. However, the kids did have opinions on the riots and the media’s involvement.

But it wasn’t just the curriculum and the athletics that inspired the sisters’ actions. According to Abel and Sarah, the teachers at Bishop McNamara were an integral force behind Sarah and Rachel’s successes.

“I can’t say enough about the people at the School,” Abel said. “[Rachel and Sarah] had a wonderful education.

We were very pleased with the school, the teachers were always helpful.”

“

I loved McNamara – it just was like an incredible sense of

family and community there." ~ Sarah Mattos '02

Abel went on to say that the student diversity that Sarah and Rachel experienced at Bishop McNamara also helped to inspire the sisters’ senses of faith and service.

“There was a sense of harmony [at Bishop McNamara],” he explained. “Sarah and Rachel experienced countries and different types of people they wouldn’t have experienced elsewhere.”

“A lot of our kids were really upset with how Baltimore was portrayed and not upset by what people did in the riots,” Sarah explained. “They didn’t want their city to be portrayed like that.”

“It was kind of the first time in my life that I was in the minority,” said Sarah. “It was a really interesting experience.

I learned a lot, I had a lot of new experiences. It’s hard to even describe, it’s just kind of that special.”

Sarah went on to say that she did exercises with her middle school students to help them express how they felt about the riots. One of these exercises involved splitting the students into groups and putting out poster papers, each of them had questions such as: “How I feel about what happened,” “What do I want people to know about Baltimore?” and “Things I’m worried about.”

The positivity that both sisters bring to their respective careers is something to be admired. So often these days it is easy to become discouraged or even bitter, but Sarah and Rachel don’t let these feelings hold them back. They both push on and work to give their full effort for their kids, bringing a sense of energetic positivity.

“So many kids and so many of these parents work so hard,” Sarah said of Baltimore residents. “Their whole lives they’ve worked very hard, they love their families; they love their communities. They’re just good people.”

It is that sense of seeing the good in all people and places, and wanting to help make a difference in the world that put the Mattos sisters among the wonderful alumni who exemplify the faith and service ideals that are held so dear to Bishop McNamara. Abel Mattos, father of Sarah and Rachel, attributes their work ethic and spirit to the many activities the sisters were involved with at Bishop McNamara. “[Bishop McNamara] cultivated their senses of social justice and social action,” Abel said. “The sports they were involved with taught them team spirit, and they have a good sense of conscience and social issues.”

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“I feel like you shouldn’t do it unless you really want to,” said Sarah. “Most of the people really want to be there and really want to help and they’re kind of in this system that is often very frustrating and sometimes has very overwhelming challenges. But I’ve met a lot of great people and just the little things that you can sometimes see that you’ve helped to do or help someone, it makes a big difference. It helps to keep you going.”

Service careers evolve constantly – as human beings we want, or we should want, to make life better for everyone, not just ourselves. Through service learning and studying inspirational historical figures such as Mahatma Ghandi and Dorothy Day, Bishop McNamara teaches this lesson to students.

These students will, we hope, follow in the footsteps of the Mattos sisters and the countless others who came before and after them to pursue service careers to help shape the modern world into a happier world for everyone.

Mustang moments Mr. Justin McClain '00, wrote a reflection for the Summer 2015 edition of the "Parish Connection" the newsletter for the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Office of Black Catholic Ministry, entitled "Journeying in Faith, Diversity in the Church, and Unity in Christ: A Reflection on Living the Catholic Faith in the Twenty-first Century."

In commemoration of September 11th, Jordan Embrack '19 and the Washington Performing Arts' Children of the Gospel Choir performed live on the WUSA 9 morning news.

Charles Shryock IV, Director of Faculty Development, was asked to share his views for an article by The Teachers Guild. The Teachers Guild is an online collaborative that brings together educators from around the world to solve 30 education challenges in three years.

The annual "Mustangs Go Pink" event to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month was once again a success. On Friday, October 2, 2015, the Science National Honor Society sponsored the event. We raised $2,600 as a result of the amazing support!

ALUMNI SPEAKER SERIES:

COL. (RET.) JASEY BRILEY '77

As part of our Senior Speaker Series, on September 16, 2015 Col. (ret.)

Jasey Briley '77 arrived on campus.

He spoke to our Senior Class about his military career and how influential McNamara was for him.

Briley emphasized the importance of academics, and encouraged students to challenge themselves and take on the more difficult courses offered not just at Bishop McNamara, but at any college they attend afterwards.

The students were reluctant to let his speech come to an end, and his visit ended in thunderous applause from students, faculty and staff. To view photos from his visit, see the album on our Alumni Facebook page.

Tierra Jolly '00 attended the Legends and Leadership Awards Gala, where she received the prestigious "Rising Democrat" award.

Bishop McNamara High School hosted 500 participants during its 2nd Annual 5K for the Arts on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

The 5K for the Arts is the premiere annual fundraising event for the Fine Arts Department. The grand total came to an astounding $82,000 which will support the Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts programs.

Bishop McNamara High School Science Department teacher, Jan Steeger, attended a Back-to-School Climate Education Event at the White House. The event included approximately 200 educators and student leaders from across the United States.

Bishop McNamara High School is pleased to announce the Archdiocese of Washington High School Principals Association (HSPA) Veteran and New Teachers of the Year: Ms. Saiedeh Khalili, Veteran Teacher of the Year; and Mr. Peter Sanneman, New Teacher of the Year.

Once again Bishop McNamara High School has been voted Best Private School in Prince George's County by the Bowie Blade News! We appreciate and thank everyone for their votes and continued support!

BMHS was also awarded the Prince George's County Beautification Award for our Memorial Garden. Thanks to alumni parent Patricia Musselman LR '83 for submitting us for the award!

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RISING IN THE RANKS

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ap ATHLETIC PRIDE

6 a.m. at Bishop McNamara High School.

Early September – it’s cold, the grass is still wet with dew and a light fog covers the ground. The campus is silent, there’s not a soul in sight.

Unless you enter the main building – there you’ll hear the squeaking of sneakers and the thud of a ball hitting the boards. Young women’s voices can be heard, calling words of encouragement to their teammates or signaling the start of the next drill. These are the sounds of the girls’ basketball team, the Lady Mustangs, but it’s not a practice you’re hearing. Practice for the girls’ basketball team doesn’t start until November – these young women approached their head coach, Frank Oliver, wanting more time in the gym to run drills and exercise to stay in shape for the upcoming season.

This year the Lady Mustangs will participate in the Nike Tournament of Champions, one of the most prestigious competitions in the nation. The road to their success has been rocky and hard-won, but proves that they are driven by the determination indicative of modern McNamara.

Bishop McNamara is part of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, one of the toughest leagues in the United States. Last season, the Lady Mustangs won 25 games and beat the Crusaders of Riverdale Baptist School, the nationally-ranked number one seed. But prior to that, Bishop McNamara was in last place in the WCAC, having won only three games total two seasons ago.

Coach Oliver has proven himself to be a driving force behind the increased success of the Lady Mustangs.

“My goal is for them to be disciplined, diligent, and learn to prioritize,” said Oliver. “When I came on as head coach, I put a structure in place for the girls. Especially to help them prioritize. There was a lot of training involved to help them in physical conditioning and in study hall to maintain their school work.”

The players have noticeable respect and even reverence for Coach Oliver. Respect which was earned from all the hard work and dedication he put into the team to help make them stronger, more focused, and most importantly – a family.

“As a freshman I wanted to give up because Coach Oliver was so hard on us,” said Kyara Frames '17. “But now as a junior I’ve come to respect my coach a lot and understand the game of basketball a lot more. Once I understood that it was constructive criticism I was able to develop as a basketball player and build my character a lot.”

“Now we’re closer than most teams are,” said Zenzele Apesemaka-Vital '18. “We connect with each other on so many different levels. We’re all family here at McNamara, but Coach Oliver made us more so. He really instilled that in us, being there for our teammates.”

More than a coach, Oliver is a teacher committed to educating the Lady Mustangs – not only in their minds, but in their hearts; a philosophy held true and dear to Bishop McNamara.

Through use of excerpts and quotes from books such as The Champion’s Mind by Jim Afremow, Ph.D., Coach Oliver has emphasized team spirit, motivation, and knowledge of the game of basketball to his players, his students.

“I encourage them to be open, and approach everything with a beginner’s mind,” said Coach Oliver. “If you approach something with an expert’s mind, the possibilities are limited.

You have to be open to new ideas and new ways of thinking.

To a beginner’s mind, the possibilities are endless.”

“At my other school as a basketball player you were more on your own. The coaches didn’t put a lot of time and effort into you,” said Shelbi Harris-Mowatt '16, who transferred into Bishop McNamara. “I ended up having knee surgery last year, and Coach Oliver was really there for me and helped cheer me up because I was really down on myself and didn’t think I’d come back as strong.”

“The mindset is changing. In order for us to be a championship program, which I know that we’re fully capable of becoming, it starts with the mental aspect,” said Coach Oliver. “I try to motivate them and train the mind. The mind controls the body; so if you’re mentally strong, then you can be physically strong as well. If you can believe it, if you can see it in your mind, you can achieve it; and you can go out there with confidence.”

The family vibe and dedication that these young women exude is inspirational. To come back from previous seasons determined to become stronger, constantly pushing forward and refusing to quit - it is the Mustang Spirit in its prime.

It is a spirit they have developed together as a team, and through Coach Oliver’s teaching. Coach Oliver taught them how to work hard and how to be disciplined. He taught them perseverance, and that winning is a matter of attitude and a positive state of mind.

The Lady Mustangs are determined to leave the Nike Tournament of Champions victorious – but regardless of the outcome, they will remain strong and committed to the team, and to Bishop McNamara.

More than teammates, they are family.

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19

Home

Connect

MUSTANG

FEVER as seen on

®

They may be Eagles, Saints, Fighting Irish, Terrapins and many other things now, but once a Mustang, always a Mustang!

Our athletic alumni carry the McNamara spirit with them long after graduation.

Their determination and effort are without equal.

Congratulations to all of our athletic alumni – those who came before, and those who are on their way!

Tweets UMCP Terrapins Go @UMCPTerrapinsGo • Aug 20 After productive redshirt year, Damian Prince ready to contribute for Terps football Willie Prince | Damian Prince Class of '14

Ashton White @awhiteuno • Oct 10 | Class of '15 20

God is good! #blessed

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Ashton White '15 is now a Defensive Back for the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame.

Discover Brandon Coleman @B_Cole16 • Jul 14 | Class of '10 Truly a blessing to be able to give back, especially to my roots @BMHSMustangs!

On September 13, 2015, Brandon Coleman ’10, Wide Receiver for the New Orleans Saints, scored his first career touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jerome Couplin III @WhenInRome14 • Oct 3 | Class of '09 When it's all said and done it is only right to give praise to the Man above for making it all possible! Thankful and blessed!

Univ of MD Wrestling @TerpsWrestling • Aug 4 Check out the NEW umterps.com. Our page is AWESOME!!!

Baby J™ | Alfred Bannister Class of '14

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21

Whether you choose to follow our athletic alumni on or off the field, all opinions, views and beliefs expressed are those of the individuals and not of Bishop McNamara High School.

EXPANSION OF THE

FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT

ta TALENT IN THE ARTS

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Change

can be a bittersweet thing.

It can mean the destruction of the traditional because it is deemed outdated or old fashioned. But change can also mean progression. Change means expanding one’s boundaries into new, previously uncharted territories, both literally and metaphorically.

The world around Bishop McNamara High School continues to modernize. We strive to offer our students a 21st-century Catholic education; in order to do so, our programs and curriculum continue to grow and expand.

Bishop McNamara has been renowned for its Fine Arts Program. More than half of our current students are enrolled in fine arts courses; our athletes take ballet classes to increase their agility, our computer science whizz kids take graphic design and digital photography classes to develop another set of technological skills. But the Fine Arts Program at Bishop McNamara has most certainly undergone changes throughout the School’s 50-year history. The main changes to the program have been made in order to expand the curriculum to give students a better, more modern variety of courses, and more space in which they can practice their respective crafts.

Anthony Conto, Fine Arts Director and Director of Bands & Orchestra, came to Bishop McNamara 15 years ago, and remembers when the program was much smaller than it is today.

“Back then, the Fine Arts department only had two full-time faculty and a handful of part-time,” he explained. “For my first couple years we didn’t have a truly unified Fine Arts Department. It was the Art Program, the Dance Program, the Band. The biggest thing was going from not having an identity as a cohesive department 15 years ago and prior, to growing into this fine arts family of sorts.

That community, that concept, it didn’t exist 15 years ago.”

In Conto’s first year, the band had 80 students enrolled with 8 in concert band.

Currently, Bishop McNamara boasts more than 160 students enrolled in almost a dozen different instrumental ensembles, with approximately 550 students enrolled in the Fine Arts Department as a whole.

Thanks to the combined effort of the department faculty, Bishop McNamara now has a cohesive Fine Arts Department.

“It was a collective vision for Bishop McNamara to really have a niche of phenomenal fine arts,” Conto explained.

“As the programs started to get more active, we started to get more students because more people wanted to join.”

Thus the expansion of the program was something of a domino effect triggered mainly by student interest.

“There was a lot of encouragement for students to do cross-curriculars,” said Mary Mitchell-Donahue, Chair of the Fine Arts department and alumni parent. “My daughters, for instance, did art and dance and theatre concurrently, and I saw a lot of other students doing that.”

Rather than detract from one another, the different fine arts genres at McNamara blend and work together in order to develop multiple artistic skills in our students.

As more students became interested and enrolled in more fine arts courses, the need for additional faculty became evident. Some of the previously part-time staff positions, such as Theatre Technology

and Graphic Arts/Photography teacher, were made full-time to meet student and department needs. Dominic Traino was hired full-time as the Theatre Technology teacher.

“I think that shows great support from the administration,” Traino began, “that they said ‘This needs to be a full-time position so that we can make sure that our theatre program is strong.’ If they didn’t care, they wouldn’t have made my position full-time."

The support the School administration has shown the Fine Arts department has always been strong, according to Conto and Mitchell-Donahue.

The advancing development of technology has also influenced the expansion of the Fine Arts Department. While classic studio art courses such as drawing, painting and composition are important to the core curriculum, Bishop McNamara has a responsibility as a fine arts school to offer graphic design and digital photography courses to provide students with a truly modern, well-rounded education in the arts.

As the variety of class offerings has grown, Bishop McNamara has seen the rise of programs such as the Traditional African Music and Dance Program – which got its start at the School as an African dance and music club introduced by faculty member Victor Bah. This program in particular

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

23

has set Bishop McNamara apart from other schools, as it is the only one of its kind in a college-preparatory school in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.

Above all, Bishop McNamara strives for academic excellence and a well-rounded education for all of its students. The School has a chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society to increase student appreciation for music while encouraging superior academic performance. Additionally, Bishop McNamara has a program exclusive to the School whose goal is to attain a well-rounded education in the arts for students who show genuine interest in pursuing artistic careers. This program is called Fine Arts Diploma Endorsement, also known as the FADE Program.

“We wanted to offer the opportunity that, if students had a proclivity to the arts, to dive in a little bit deeper,” said Conto. “It’s a program where students, over the course of their sophomore, junior, and senior years, take fine arts courses and then really delve into that particular art form. During the school year we’ll have six or seven special evening events where we’ll pull in artists from different genres to give some kind of demonstration or give a question/ answer talk.”

These evening events, collectively referred to as Colloquia, are meant to provide students the opportunity to meet with professional artists and learn what the working artistic world is like. Colloquia events have included Daniel Harder of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, guest lectures by visual artists, South African jazz artist Vuyo Sotashe and the Fred Hughes Jazz Trio, theatre improvisation groups, military instrumental ensembles, and many more. Additional enrichment opportunities in the arts have included visits from representatives of prestigious organizations such as the Joffrey Ballet School.

“It’s really the school meeting the needs and demands of the students to have more fine arts in a variety of formats,” said Mitchell-Donahue.

“Many people will ask: ‘What’s a characteristic of McNamara?’” said Conto.

“It’s that it keeps evolving. I think we just need to maintain stability.”

The stability of the Fine Arts Department comes from the emphasis of balanced collaboration between the multiple genres and programs of the department.

Elements of each individual genre are highlighted without detracting from one another. They all work together in mutual appreciation, and help students to learn and grow in developing new skills and experiences not available elsewhere.

Ensuring that the programs at Bishop McNamara all work together is essential in maintaining the strength of the School

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

as a whole. The diverse genres and appreciation of them is the true strength of the Fine Arts. This is proven in the Fine Arts Christmas Festival. The multiple programs fuse together as one in a flawless performance of classical ballet set to orchestra music, the tap dance students clacking their shoes to the music of the jazz ensemble accompanied by the choir, all with the studio and digital arts projected on stage during the performance.

The risky characteristic of change is its unpredictability. Outside McNamara, fine arts classes all across the nation are being cut. Our classes are thriving and continuing to evolve and expand. So long as we uphold a stable balance and stay true to our Holy Cross core, we shall remain a strong school that is rooted and renowned in the fine arts.

To witness the full expansion of the Fine Arts Program at Bishop McNamara High School, we welcome you to attend our Fine Arts Christmas Festival on December 11th and 12th. Tickets for the performance will be available on sale in late November.

Colloquia held throughout the year are also free and open to the public.

Bishop McNamara Dance Teacher, Victoria Keithline LR '90 and her dance students rehearsing.

BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL is thrilled to announce its launch of the

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION You’ll find many ways to stay in touch with your classmates, but only one “Association” is dedicated to keeping you informed and engaged through activities, programs, networking opportunities and publications.

Renewing, strengthening and developing life-long friendships are what you have to look forward to when you join the Alumni Association.

STAY CONNECTED

~

GET INVOLVED

WAYS TO JOIN THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION If you are ready to be an active and engaged member of the Association, there are several simple ways to join!

• Fill out and return a registration form to the School • Sign-up at any Alumni event this year • Join online at www.bmhs.org

For more information, contact Director of Alumni Relations, Robert Nolte, at robert.nolte@bmhs.org.

~

BUILD LEGACY

BENEFITS 1. Across the nation and the globe, you’ll find a strong network of alumni involved with the Association.

Network with more than 11,000 alumni that call the Association “home.”

2. Members enjoy exclusive PERKS! Receive discounts from Alumni-owned local businesses.

3. Association members receive special discounted rates at all special events including the Fall Gala, Annual Golf Tournament, Hall of Fame induction, and more.

4. Membership includes a special membership card, pin, and discounts at the Mustang Shop School Bookstore.

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ALUMNINEWS

La Reine & McNamara '67 & '68 After being friends for 30 years, David R. Wilson '67 and Carol Martin Swann LR '68 exchanged wedding vows. The alumni were married at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in North Beach, Md. '75 Vanessa Koolhof LR '75 received an Emmy Award in the category of Continuing Coverage - Within 24 Hours. She received the award for her work on the WJLA-TV report of the Gaithersburg plane crash.

'79 Dr. Scott Drew '79 recently returned from a goodwill trip to India treating patients afflicted with illnesses previously gone untreated such as lupus.

Upon returning from his trip, Dr. Drew held a presentation during the 2015-16 BMHS Faculty Orientation, in which he gave new and returning faculty and staff words of wisdom and advice from his perspective as an alumnus.

David Kasprzyk '96 married his girlfriend, Jennifer, on July 4, 2015, at St. Vincent Chapel, Catholic University.

David is currently the Manager at a brand new Hilton Garden Inn in Old Town Alexandria, VA. '97 Julie Andracsek '97 celebrated her marriage to Michael Billings on July 25, 2015.

'99 Kymberly Lathrop Falkler '99 and her husband, Jon, welcomed their son, Paxton Lee Falkler, into the world on June 19, 2015. Paxton joined his sister Addie as the newest member of the Falkler family at 8lbs, 10oz. and was 21in. long.

Congratulations to Michelle Tamoria '99 and her husband Ryan Johnson on their marriage on June 29, 2015.

'00

'96 On September 3, 2015, Joy Johnson '96 celebrated the birth of her son Marcus Varian Marshall, Jr.

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

'02 Ashley Grenier Ruocco '02 welcomed Eva Dorothy Ruocco to the world on January 7, 2015.

'05 Katie Cuellar '05 married Graham Miller on October 8, 2015. They shared a beautiful sunset elopement in Southern MD. Katie is the daughter of BMHS staff members Janice Conlon Cuellar LR '69 and Hector Cuellar.

'83 Ignazio Bonanni '83, is sticking true to his Italian heritage by opening Tesoro Restaurant & Bar at 4400 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. '95 For his work at Anita J. Turner Elementary in Southeast D.C., Eric Bethel '95 was featured in an article published by The Washington Post.

The article details Eric's background, why he works with children and why specifically he chose to work in Southeast D.C.

'01 Congratulations to Justin Banford '01 and his wife Elizabeth Carlos on the early August birth of their daughter, Lillian Banford.

Gia Moore '00 gave birth on July 30, 2015 to healthy baby boy Harlen Avery Delts.

All American Boys, written by Jason Reynolds '00, made Apple, Inc.'s Best Books for September list. Jason was also honored with the Distinguished Author Award by the New York Black Librarians’ Caucus.

Congratulations to current Bishop McNamara staff member Kristian Owens '05 on her marriage to Malcolm Smith. Kristian has been a member of our wonderful Counseling Center staff for the past few years.

'06 Jasmine D. Chandler '06 graduated in 2013 from Drexel University with an M.S. degree in fashion design.

Currently, Jasmine teaches at Delaware State University as a Fashion Instructor.

She also has her own fashion line, JrĂŠe.

'07 Justin Smith '07 married Jazmyn Artis on August 15, 2015.

'08 Tiana Myers '08 received her Master's degree in sports administration from Northwestern University. She was also named Director of Operations for Women's Basketball for the university.

'09 Julia Donoghue Belton '09, who previously worked at Eleven Madison Park in New York, opened a new restaurant called Flavor in Baltimore.

'10 Taylor Faulkner '10 competed in the Miss Maryland Scholarship Pageant. She will begin studying at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law this fall.

Matthew Michael '10 graduated from King's College this past May with a B.S. in computer science and a minor in criminal justice.

Ceonna Parran '10 was accepted to the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine July 31, 2015. Ceonna graduated from Spelman College in May 2014 with a biology degree.

'11 Chelsea Goodman '11 was recently featured in Virginia Commonwealth University's Undergraduate Student Spotlight, where she talked about her experiences as a psychology major and her expectations after graduation.

Patrick Sensenig '11 was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army on July 7, 2015. He also graduated from Penn State University this past spring with a major in criminology.

Nia Simmons '11 had the privilege of meeting Misty Copeland, newlypromoted principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Nia was a part of the BMHS dance program and graduated from Spelman College with a degree in English and a double minor in creative writing and dance.

'13 Randall Clay '13, now a junior mechanical engineering major at the University of Maryland has been accepted into the Scholars Program.

Over the summer, Randall was selected for an internship with Procter & Gamble, in the Duracell Division and was offered an internship with Procter & Gamble next summer. Randall is working as an engineer with Toyota Corporation as part of their Fall CoOp Program.

'14 Jailynn Cotton '14 was selected to participate in a summer internship program with Google in New York.

'15 Breana Ross '15 wrote an article entitled "10 Roommate Struggles Every Student Understands," published in the University of Miami magazine.

Katie Cuellar '05 & Graham Miller were married on October 8, 2015 in Southern MD. Photo courtesy of Birds of a Feather Photography.

Thomas Weaver '15 made it to the final round of the 16th Annual National Bar Association's Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition. Thomas won 3rd place,

a college scholarship, and an internship next summer at Denny's Corporation.

HURRICANE KATRINA: REFLECTING 10 YEARS LATER

Ten years later, we give a solemn pause to remember those affected by the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Bishop McNamara is indebted to the ten students and their families who came to the School in 2005 in the aftermath of the hurricane. Keeping with the faith and aspects of Holy Cross, the Bishop McNamara community banded together to support these families.

“I remember standing in the parking lot with the other members of the administrative team, asking for donations to support those ten students,” said President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark ’85, who was principal of the School at the time.

“The Bishop McNamara families very generously donated the change in their pockets and many wrote checks. Some of those checks were as large as $10,000.”

Many fundraising efforts were held by the staff, faculty and the student body. Students held a dress-down day where they paid $20 to forgo their typical uniforms in favor of casual clothes. More than $25,000 was raised on that day alone.

“To me that was the most powerful manifestation of how special and unique the McNamara family is,” said Dr. Clark.

“This community was a living witness to caritas and in so doing helped to provide new opportunities and hope for the families who came to us.”

These ten students helped bring us closer to understanding the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Bishop McNamara came together as a community in support of these students who joined the McNamara family. We will always remember and appreciate what they taught us in turn, and the experience of having them with us.

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SAVE THE DATE BMHS & LA REINE ALUMNI HOLIDAY PARTY DECEMBER 17, 2015 STATE OF THE SCHOOL ADDRESS JANUARY 19, 2016 HALL OF FAME JANUARY 23, 2016 MILITARY APPRECIATION BASEBALL GAME @ Bowie Baysox Stadium Men's Varsity v. DeMatha APRIL 16, 2016 LA REINE REUNION APRIL 17, 2016 MUSTANG CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT MAY 6, 2016 For more information, contact the Advancement Office at advancement@bmhs.org

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EVENT & REUNION INFORMATION LET BISHOP McNAMARA HELP PLAN YOUR REUNION Bishop McNamara High School is reaching out to the following Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School classes to help organize their upcoming reunions:

La Reine High School ‘66 Bishop McNamara & La Reine ‘71, ‘76, ‘81, ‘86, ‘91 Bishop McNamara High School ‘96, ‘01, ‘06, ‘11 If you or any of your classmates have questions, need help, or are interested in forming a reunion committee, contact: Robert Nolte, Director of Alumni Relations robert.nolte@bmhs.org | 301.735.8401 ext. 111

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , VISIT WWW.BMHS.ORG

Pictured above: Chris DeCesaris '91, Chair, Board of Directors & Janice Conlon Cuellar LR '69, Director of Student Information Systems & Web Services

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WAYS TO SUPPORT

Supporting the Vision of Blessed Fr. Moreau and the Mission of Bishop McNamara High School Bishop McNamara High School relies on the generosity of our school community. Tuition alone does not fully fund the needs of the School. It is only through the thoughtfulness of caring individuals that Bishop McNamara has been able to flourish and meet the needs of our students.

Spes Unica Annual Fund Gifts of cash are available for immediate use by the School for academic programs, student resources, and faculty support.

Cross & Anchor Endowment The newly established endowment allows for current and future students to have access to the best teachers and resources for their education. Establishing of perpetual scholarships, department chairs, naming of buildings and fields and general donor-restricted gifts encompass the possibilities of the endowment.

Scholarship Fund Giving You may make a donation to individual scholarship funds, which have been set up as memorial or honorary scholarships, or scholarships endowed by certain organizations.

Matching Gifts Many businesses and corporations match personal gifts to educational institutions made by employees, retirees, and family members.

Gifts of Securities & Stocks Gifts of securities and stocks can help you save on capital gains tax and offer a charitable income tax deduction.

Memorial & Honorary Gifts Your memorial gift to Bishop McNamara can help to perpetuate the values that guided a loved one’s life. Gifts may honor a person during his or her lifetime or commemorate a significant event.

Real Estate Real estate can offer great potential for a charitable gift. Bishop McNamara High School will consider accepting a gift of a home, vacation property, condominium, undeveloped land, or other real estate.

Personal Property Gifts of assets such as cars, jewelry and boats are also welcomed.

Planned Giving Gifts made through charitable donations.

wills, trusts

and/or

through

IRA

For further information, please contact L'oreal Edmondson at 240.455.9618 or loreal.edmondson@bmhs.org.

United Way of the National Capital Area: #8895 • CFC: #62489 • Maryland Charity Campaign: #6137

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in loving memory...

James G. Buckley, father of Laura Buckley Reidy LR '75, Brenda

Buckley Mutter LR '76, Karen Buckley Gilger LR '77, James F.

Buckley '79, William Buckley '80, Daniel Buckley '82, and Thomas

Buckley '84, and father-in-law of Wayne Mutter '77 and Diane Beck Buckley '81, passed away peacefully October 1, 2015.

John Byrne passed away on October 9, 2015. He is the father of Terrence Byrne '71, Kevin Byrne '73, Timothy Byrne '75, Penelope

Byrne Beattie LR '77, Neil Byrne '79, Brendan Byrne '84, Sean

Byrne '86, and Michael Byrne '87, and father-in-law of Kristina Rohan Byrne LR '86.

Mrs. Ann M. Cacciatore, mother of Kathy Cacciatore Novak LR '71, Mary Kay Cacciatore DeGeorge LR '75, and Paul Cacciatore '78

passed away on August 11, 2015.

Ms. Linda Hobbs, mother of Megan Hobbs '11, passed away on July 1, 2015.

Mary Frances Jackson, mother of Kendria Jackson '99, passed away October 11, 2015.

William Klimczak '71, brother of Richard Klimczak '69, Karen Klimczak Lyons LR '74, and Jeffrey Klimczak '79, passed away

on August 11, 2015. He is also the father of Jennifer Klimczak '02, Rebecca Klimczak '04, and Nicholas Klimczak '07, current BMHS teacher.

Denise LaRue LR '73 passed away October 3, 2015.

Merle Virginia Jones Morgan passed away in July 2015. She is the mother of Robert Morgan '87 and Arlington "Ray" Morgan '85.

Dr. Claire Cargill, mother of Simisola Olorunwumi '18, passed away on June 26, 2015.

Marie Nolte passed away on September 5, 2015. She is the aunt of Robert Nolte, Director of Alumni Relations.

Erin Catterton, daughter of Robert Catterton '80 and Debbie

Catterton, passed away on July 29, 2015. She is also the sister of Scotty Jr. and Elizabeth, who previously attended Bishop McNamara.

Abigail Grace Clegg, granddaughter of Michael Watterson '78, was born July 1, 2015 and passed away at Children's National Medical Center on July 19, 2015.

Diana Davis, mother of new staff member Anne Dillon and mother-in-

Mrs. Marguerite Pratt Foley passed away on July 1, 2015. She is the mother of former BMHS Board Member, Fr. William Foley.

Charles Shryock III, father of Director of Faculty Development Charlie Shryock IV, passed away on September 24, 2015.

Brian Raynor Sickles, Jr., father of Jamal Bailey '11, passed away on June 27, 2015.

law of Jim Dillon '79, passed away on August 19, 2015.

Scott Stuart, father of Sarah Stuart '07, passed away on July 20, 2015.

Dr. John A. Duggan passed away on October 8, 2015. He is the

LaVonne Thaden passed away on June 28, 2015. She is the grandmother

Denise Buchanan Griffin LR '69 passed away July 18, 2015. She is

James Vines, father of freshman Jaelyn Vines '19, passed away on

grandfather of past faculty member Abbie Greer.

the sister of Jean Buchanan Swann LR '64, Jim Buchanan '67, and Dennis Buchanan '69,

Eunice Guiliano, mother of current BMHS teacher Nancy Cunningham,

mother-in-law

of

Walter J. Cunningham '79,

grandmother of Lindsey Cunningham '02, Alyson Cunningham '03, and Walter Cunningham '03 passed away on June 17, 2015.

of Bonnie Thaden '06 and Kathleen Thaden '09.

August 18, 2015.

Jacquelyn Grant Whitehead, grandmother of Kayla Hawkins '16 and Lauren Hawkins '19 passed away on August 18, 2015.

Odessa Barnes Williams, grandmother of Mia Williams '14, passed away on July 24, 2015.

The pictured bricks and benches are available to purchase and personalize in memory of your loved ones. Bricks are $250 and benches are $1,000.

For further information, please contact L'oreal Edmondson at 240.455.9618 or loreal.edmondson@bmhs.org.

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BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL 6800 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD 20747-3270 301.735.8401 www.bmhs.org Address Service Requested

OUR MISSION Bishop McNamara High School, a college preparatory school in the Holy Cross tradition, exists to educate and form young men and women in and through the Catholic faith. The School challenges its students to think with Christ, a thought animated by the Gospel, manifested in service and informed by academic excellence.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Forestville, MD Permit No. 2048