Falcon Family News

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Dear Families,

I pray you all had a blessed and bountiful Thanksgiving!

As we enter the season of Advent, a time of preparation and anticipation of the birth of Jesus we are invited to empty ourselves from worldly possessions and distractions, so that our full heart will be available to encounter Jesus in His Nativity December is a time of reflection, gratitude, anticipation, and celebration We’ve seen our students grow in faith, academics, and service, and we are so proud of the community we have built together

This spirit of joyful service is deeply rooted in the legacy of St John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers and founder of our Lasallian Catholic educational tradition His vision of education as a means to transform lives through faith, community, and service continues to guide our mission at Christian Brothers Whether it’s through our Advent prayers and Masses, VENAVER service immersions trips, Kairos and grade-level retreats, festive performances, our Thanksgiving canned food drive, or the many other acts of service that transpire each day, the CB spirit shines brightly.

Gratefully, our students are discovering their own paths, grounded in our Lasallian values, and making a difference in the world. Included in a prayer from the SFNO District, we are reminded to “open our hearts to the gift of Christmas, through which You (Jesus) tell us that we are Yours and we are loved.”

I am deeply grateful for the blessing of serving as President of this extraordinary community, and for the families who share with us their greatest gifts, our students. Your trust and partnership are at the heart of everything we do.

As we look ahead to the joy and traditions of the season, I’m reminded of one of my family’s favorite holiday movies, Elf So, as we prepare to wrap up the first semester, I hope your family finds time to rest, laugh (maybe over a cup of the world’s best coffee), and enjoy the simple magic of the season May your homes be filled with peace, love, and the true joy of Christmas

Wishing you a blessed Advent and a very merry Christmas, and remember, there's room for everyone on the Nice List!

Live Jesus in our hearts!

Dave Perry, Ed.D. President

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

COUNSELING NEWS

It’s that time of the year when we break down the basics of the tests that students may need to take as they consider their college options 4-year colleges and universities are still in the process of determining whether they require a college entrance test score as part of the application process for the next few years so check their websites often The two national tests are the ACT (American College Test) and the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) ALL colleges and universities that require exams will accept either score. Both tests are usually offered at local area high schools 7-8 times throughout the year. Research nationally (and with our own CB students) indicated that students often perform differently on the ACT and SAT Here is some information on each test:

ACT:

Has four content areas – English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning The ACT has moved Science to an “optional” section (see this link for which colleges require the Science section ) Measures academic achievement in the four areas and contains analytical and problem-solving exercises related to what has been learned in the classroom

Has an optional Essay and both paper/pencil and digital format options Registration for the ACT is on the ACT website (www actstudent org)

SAT:

Tests Reading & Mathematics Test is fully digital only There is no longer an essay portion Focuses on problem-solving, data-analysis, evidence-based reading & writing, writing and analyzing Literature, Social Studies and Science passages Registration for the SAT is on the SAT website (www collegeboard com)

The CB Counseling Department, like many high schools all over the country, has seen the trend of more and more colleges becoming Test Blind (exam scores are not used for admission purposes- all UC and CSU campuses are Test Blind) or Test Optional, but recently many of the most competitive college and universities are swinging back to requiring the exams for admission Check out Fair Test www fairtest org for a list of schools that do not require either the SAT or ACT for admissions purposes.

BlueBook and ACT Academy have made an agreement with SAT and ACT to do free online test prep You may view details of that program at the website listed above

CB VIRTUAL WELLNESS CENTER

Students are using this wonderful resource to learn about important topics like self-care, managing stress, and substance abuse All members of the CB community are welcome to click here to explore this wonderful resource

TIPS FOR PARENTS ON USING CB’S Scoir:

Scoir is a remarkable tool for students in all grade levels and parents to use for self-awareness or for educational, career and college planning There is a vast amount of information on hundreds of careers and colleges, as well as the popular Scattergrams on what it might take to get into an individual school. Students have been sent invitations to set up their account and encouraged to explore this site Parents have also been sent log-in information for their own account Counselors will continue to present information at student/parent evenings, but parents who wish to have any specific questions answered about Scoir are urged to contact their child’s grade-level counselor or the college counselors Scoir can be accessed by clicking on Quick Links on the front page of the CB website.

TIPS FOR FALL FINAL EXAMS

The Counseling Department is looking forward to supporting all students during Fall final exams

Grade level counselors, wellness counselors, and college counselors are all here to support and guide students as this semester comes to a close. Here are some suggestions for every student to consider when preparing for their exams: Explore seeing their teacher during office hours for additional guidance or clarification of specific topics or test prep suggestions

Review study guides from instructors prior to review days and ask questions in class regarding the best way to study, weight of the exam, and other test-taking tips.

Explore time management tips with the counseling department or ways to reduce anxiety during this stressful time

Make an appointment with the grade-level counselor for academic and personal coaching

Study groups are great ways to collaborate, share ideas, and help your classmates review important material. Balancing out study sessions with breaks, outdoor activity, healthy eating, and adequate sleep.

During non-instructional hours, visit the CB Virtual Wellness Center for resources and tips for a balanced work-life approach

THE ARTS

The Arts program had a spectacular November with the premiere of the Fall Musical, Little Shop of Horrors! Congratulations to the cast and crew on a fantastic run!

Don’t miss the following opportunities to watch the talented students of Christian Brothers perform:

Christmas Instrument Concert, Wednesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. rd

Choral Concert, Saturday, December 6 at 4:30 p.m. th

Choral Concert, Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. th

LASALLIAN STUDENT LIFE

A big shoutout to God Squad for putting on our wonderful Thanksgiving Prayer Service.

Join us in community for the following faith opportunities:

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mañanitas | Friday, December 12 at 7:45 a.m.: La Raza and God Squad invite our entire Christian Brothers community to take part in one of the most beautiful and meaningful traditions in Catholic culture. We will kick off with Las Mañanitas in the Chapel of Saint Joseph. This is a joyful celebration honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. Join us as we offer flowers, enjoy a live student reenactment of the miraculous story of Juan Diego, and fill the chapel with music and prayer. Families are welcome! After this brief and meaningful prayer service, we will head to the Bertram Living Room for a cozy community gathering. We will share conchas and Abuelita hot chocolate. This is a perfect way to start your morning.

Mass with Bishop Soto | Friday, December 12 at 11:30 a.m.: The entire CB community will come together in the gym for a special schoolwide Mass This is a day rich with culture, faith, community, and celebration You won’t want to miss it! Everyone is welcome!

ATHLETICS

Congratulations to our Section Championship teams; Flag Football, Women’s Volleyball, and Women’s Water Polo. Congratulations to our CIF SJS Section D4 Champion runner Jackson Levasseur ’26 and Allie Potter ’28! Congratulations to the CIF SJS Academic champions teams; men’s Cross cCountry, women’s Flag Football, men’s Water Polo, and Women’s Volleyball

The following list contains our CVC All League Players for the Fall of 2025:

CVC All League

Cross Country

Jackson Levasseur ’26

Alena Potter ’28

Flag Football

Gabriella Devlin ’27

Football

Jay Cummings ’26

Gunnar Marsh ’27

Diego Taylor ’27

Women’s Tennis

Lily Steenhausen ’27

Isabelle Jackson ’28

Ella Bugatto ’26

Heidi Koenig ’26

Emma Schmidt ’26

BANNER SEASON:

Women’s Volleyball

Simone Huarte ’26

Women’s Water Polo

Lana Lukins ’26

Men’s Water Polo

Diego Aceves ’28

Our Fall Sports brought home four Section Championship banners this season Congratulations to Flag Football, Women’s Water Polo, Women’s Volleyball, and Jackson Levasseur ‘26 (Men’s Cross Country)!

‘A Night to Remember’ Annual Auction & Gala, will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026. This elegant and most important fundraising evening brings our community together to celebrate, connect, and make a meaningful impact. All proceeds directly impact the CB student experience through supporting educational programming and need-based tuition assistance

How You Can Become Involved

Item Donations: Support our silent and live auctions with unique experiences, services, or goods. (Ideas - quality wines, new home goods, themed gift baskets, experiences or vacation home rentals, jewelry, or gift cards.) Visit CB’s Amazon Wish List for more ideas

Become a Sponsor: Show your CB Pride and align your business or family name with this special event while showing your commitment to education We have some new incredible sponsorship opportunities available this year to support CB Students. Discover more here: https://150CBAuction.givesmart.com

Advertising: Promote your organization in our event program and reach a wide audience of supporters. Volunteer: We need you! Whether you want to volunteer the night of the Auction or jump in to help a planning subcommittee, your time and talent make a difference. Join the next auction planning meeting:

· When: Wednesday, December 10th from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Register: Here

For Auction & Gala FAQ’s please visit: https://www.cbhs-sacramento.org/cb-annual-auction/ For questions about volunteering or the Gala, please contact, Judy Bernacchi & Samantha Ansted, Auction Co-chairs, at auction@cbhs-sacramento.org or Kim Villarreal, Dir. of Parent Relations at 916-733-3647.

https://150CBAuction givesmart com

For questions contact: 916-733-3647 or kvillarreal@cbhs-sacramento.org