May 2013 Bulletin

DON BOSCO PREP “Empowering Young Men for Life”

Volume 97

May 2013

Please find in this issue:

Article

Page

Article

Page

Director’s Message

2

Fundraising

11

Principal’s Letter

3

Bookstore—Textbook Returns

12-14

Commencement Information

4

Diploma Frames

15

AP of Student Affairs

5

Fr. Al Sokol Golf Outing

16-17

Office of Youth Ministry

6-7

Mothers’ Guild

18

Finance Office

8

Yearbook Corner

19

Nurse’s Notes

9

Sports Award Dinner

19-20

Guidance Department

10

Summer Camps

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT

May 2013 Dear Parents and Students, In February, we dedicated one of our biweekly faculty meetings to an hour long session with a detective from the Ramsey Police Department. He reviewed with us careful details about our school campus and our lockdown procedures, highlighting important ways to maximize the safety of our students should violence intrude on our campus.

At the end of April, we organized our two hour faculty professional development session on the theme of identifying warning signs of school violence. A special agent from the FBI, who also coordinates the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, reviewed with us past cases of school violence across the country and informed us how best to identify behavioral signs that might indicate potential threats, and also how best to intervene ahead of time.

Our February meeting aimed to help us respond to violence.

The April meeting aimed to help us prevent violence. Both were beneficial and necessary, but the second was clearly more Salesian in approach, as St. John Bosco directed his educational work at preventing evil among the young.

We strive to create a home for the young at Don Bosco Prep.

That means many things, but a first priority is that this be a safe and nonviolent environment. I believe our daily efforts to foster family spirit and a friendly rapport between educators and students go a long way to reducing unacceptable behavior and promoting not only genuine respect but authentic love.

As a result, thanks be to God, a school fight is a genuine rarity among our students. Students might have differences and at times the unkind word, but so often the situation is defused, not necessarily by an educator but many times by other students. I admire how students really look out for each other here.

Nevertheless, recent acts of tragic violence, whether on school campuses or on city streets, remind us that evil is an ever present human reality. So we must endeavor as best we can to prevent evil from intruding among us, to block the unthinkable from happening here.

St. John Bosco dreamt of his boys kept safe under the mantle of Mary, Mother of God. As we work to ensure a safe campus and strive to live as a loving Christian family, may she whose statue looks over our high school grounds keep us safe under her mantle.

Cordially,

Father James Heuser, SDB

Director/President

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL

May 2013 Dear Parents/Guardians, We enter the final stretch! Spring is here at last, and we look towards the conclusion of another school year. While our underclassmen begin to prepare for the close of the year, our Seniors look forward to graduation. I’m sure that Senior parents would agree that four years seems to have gone by in a heartbeat. Nonetheless, some of the most memorable experiences of a young man’s time at Don Bosco are yet to come! We are hopeful that these final weeks will be a positive reminder for all of us of the many wonderful memories created by the Don Bosco Prep community.

May is indeed a busy month for all of us, and there are many items to be aware of this month. First, our juniors and seniors will sit for their Advanced Placement Exams during the weeks of May 6-10 and 13-17. Please see the monthly calendar for dates of these exams. Seniors will sit for their final exams on May 20-23. Seniors should be reminded that colleges will receive their final grades, so let’s continue to work through to the end of the year! Please see the letter regarding commencement activities elsewhere in this bulletin. May also brings with it our Senior Prom. This is a wonderful tradition for any high-school student, and the Bosco proms never fail in meeting the anticipation and expectation of our students. The Senior prom will be held on Thursday, May 23rd at The Rockleigh Country Club. Know that there is a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol or drugs at any school event. We want our students to have a wonderful evening, and we want their memories to be positive ones!

Friday, May 17th is Senior Gratitude Day! This new “tradition”, begun last year, is a day of fun and activities for our senior class, including a closing barbeque at the stadium. This is a good opportunity for our seniors and faculty to have one last hurrah together before commencement. This day will be the celebration of the Bishop’s Holiday for freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

On Friday, May 24th, we celebrate the progression of our juniors to “head-honcho” status with our Junior Class Leadership Mass and Ring Ceremony. The mass will take place during the school day, with the school community, as part of The Feast of Mary, Help of Christians. At this Mass, juniors who ordered class rings will have them blessed and distributed, and all juniors will receive a class pin.

There will be room for parents to attend this mass, which will begin at 9:30am, so please feel free to join us.

Know of my prayers for you during these final weeks of the school year; especially for our Seniors and their families. You and your sons have brought so much to Don Bosco Prep through your gifts, talents and presence. While our boys may physically move on, they will always be part of the enduring legacy of the Prep community. I wish them the best of happiness and success as they create a life for themselves beyond Ramsey. Parents, know that your son’s graduation does not signal the end of your relationship with Don Bosco Prep. You are always welcome at all of our events and we would love your continued presence through our Mother’s Guild and Father’s Club! Families change, grow and move in different directions, but there is always an inexorable bond which ties them together-their love for one another.

In Don Bosco,

John Stanczak Principal 3

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FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

It’s hard to believe that the end of the academic year is rapidly approaching, and the Class of 2013 will be joining the ranks of the Don Bosco Prep Alumni Association. We hope that the graduates will remain involved with the Prep for many years to come. Those that are about to graduate should, of course, be congratulated, as should the families that have stood by these young men during their journey. While the school year may be close to being over, the final day has not yet arrived and all are requested to be mindful of the continuing need to be compliant with the mandates noted in the Parent/Student Handbook (Agenda). As we move forward, please remember the following: Seniors are expected to maintain the school’s dress and conduct codes for the duration of their time at DBP. Please review the April 26th letter that was sent home by the Director in regard to our expectations and potential consequences.

For those that are returning to “The Prep” again next year, please be reminded that the current dress code, as defined in the Agenda, will continue. Since the desired attire has been well documented, and adequate notifications have been made, the school will rigidly enforce the dress code in the days to come. Please attend to uniform issues in a timely manner to avoid problems at the beginning of the next academic year.

“This uniform is similar’’, “I didn’t have time” or “I’ve always worn this”, along with other defenses, will not be accepted as valid reasons for the failure to comply with uniform mandates.

The parents of incoming Freshmen may find the Agenda/Handbook on the Don Bosco website. Utilize the “Offices” prompt and then “Administrative”. You will find the handbook prompt on the left side of the page.

Please be reminded that when wearing the regulation shorts, a student may only wear “solid white sneakers-nothing above the ankle”. “Hi-tops” and/or footwear other than plain, solid white are not acceptable. Sneakers are not permitted at any time with long pants. White socks are required with uniform shorts. Please refer to the Agenda for more specific information.

Be reminded that “hoodies” cannot be worn on campus at any time during school hours.

While athletics play a significant role in many students’ lives, the involvement in sports does not exempt the student from their other responsibilities. Student/Athletes that have a mandated after-school academic program or detention may not self-exempt themselves for athletic related functions. It should be remembered that the participation in DBP athletics is a privilege, and those that choose to participate must comply with all school mandates or risk being suspended from extracurricular activities.

With your cooperation, “The Prep” will continue our tradition of providing a quality Catholic education which emphasizes spiritual, academic and physical growth, while striving to instill a sense of discipline and ethics that will shape the future of our Ironmen. If I can be of assistance, please contact me at your earliest convenience. Take care and be safe.

Regards, Ed Nekel

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From The Office of Youth Ministry

“Mother Mary, help us to know better the voice of Jesus" Pope Francis I Dear Friends of Don Bosco Prep, Greetings peace and Blessings to you and your family and friends! In the month of April we had a great week during our annual Social Justice Week. I would like to thank Mr. Mclean and the Speak Out Club for their work and dedication for justice. I also want to thank all the participants that sign up for a particular activity. I was happy to see that 80 of our students slept outside in boxes, to be solidarity with the homeless. One of our young men was telling me that he did not sleep at all during the night and that he cannot imagine what homeless people go through day after day. He was appreciative of the small things of life, like having a bed to sleep on every night. As the year continues and as we enter into the month of May, we remember that in May the focus is on Mary, the mother of Jesus and the mother of us all. Don Bosco believed in the importance of having a strong devotion to Our Lady. The month of May has a number of wonderful feast days including the Anniversary of Fatima May 13, and our Salesian feast, Mary Help of Christians on May 24th. I hope that we can all prepare ourselves well for this Marian feast day which will be celebrated this month with our School Mass on Friday May 24th.

Pope Francis calls upon Mary our Mother to know better the voice of Jesus, and it is His voice that challenges us to step outside ourselves so as to attend to the needs of others: those who long for a sympathetic ear, those in need of comfort or help. I hope that in this month we can entrust ourselves to our heavenly mother and pray that we may hear the voice of Jesus.

On May 11th, the Salesian Province will have the Salesian Family day in Six Flags, and some students will be going to Six Flags on Saturday, so any student interested see Mr. Khanjian.

I hope and pray for our school community this month and I entrust Mary Help of Christians to take care of our seniors who will be finishing their studies here at Don Bosco.

Mary Help of Christians Pray for us

Fr. Manny

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From The Finance Office Reminder FINAL TUITION PAYMENTS All tuition payments for the 2012-2013 school year are due now.

Students will not be permitted to take their final exams unless payments are received.

RE-REGISTRATION Please note that registration for the 2013-2014 school year is due to Tuition Management by May 15th.

This year, DON BOSCO PREP is Blessed to have a “waiting list” of students.

Please take care of your REGISTRATION with TMS, so we know of your return to DON BOSCO. Have a nice summer !

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Bacterial Meningitis As some of you may have heard, a 12 year old Rockland County girl died, with little warning, on April 2, of a severe dose of Bacterial Meningitis. I know many of our students and faculty live in Rockland and thought the following information may be of timely assistance.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial Meningitis is a rare form of the disease that can cause severe complications, including brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities, or even death.

The germs that cause it can be transmitted through exchange of respiratory or throat secretions (i.e. kissing). Fortunately it isn’t spread as easily as the common cold or flu.

It is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing in air where a person with Meningitis has been. Spread is usually associated with close or long contact with a sick person. Some people who are at higher risk for transmission are: infants, elderly, those living in large group settings, those with weakened immune systems, and those travelling to high risk areas of Africa and Middle East.

Symptoms like fever, headache, and stiff neck may appear with a sudden onset, but nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and altered mental status may also appear. The symptoms of bacterial meningitis can appear quickly or over several days, most often developing 3-7 days after initial exposure.

If you think that you were exposed to someone with meningitis, tell your doctor immediately. Diagnosis is based on the results of blood cultures and/or spinal tap. Antibiotics can effectively treat meningitis but it is important to start treatment as soon as possible.

Prevention is the most important way to protect yourself and your family. Maintain healthy habits. Get rest. Avoid prolonged contact with those who are sick. Complete the recommended vaccination schedule for your children.

Bridget Cena RN, School Nurse

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GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT SENIOR INFORMATION

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER, PLEASE STOP BY THE GUIDANCE CENTER AND SIGN THE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE BOOK.

JUNIOR INFORMATION ******IMPORTANT DEADLINES****** The Guidance Center website has a listing of all SAT and ACT deadlines for this school year.

Please check the College Board and/or ACT websites for a full listing of test dates, deadlines, and availability of scores. You are particularly reminded that: May 2 – Registration deadline for June 1st SAT/SAT Subject Tests May 3 – Registration deadline for June 8th ACT Test May 4 – SAT/SAT Subject Tests May 17 – Late registration deadline for June 8th ACT Test Late registration deadline for June 1st SAT/SAT Subject Tests What: Parent to Parent Panel When: Wednesday, May 8, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Library A panel for senior parents to talk to junior parents about the college application process.

TRANSCRIPT RELEASE FORMS If you have not handed in your “Transcript Release Form,” please do so immediately. TRANSCRIPTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO ANY COACHES, COLLEGES, SUMMER PROGRAMS AND/OR SCHOLARSHIPS UNLESS THIS FORM IS RETURNED TO THE GUIDANCE OFFICE.

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DON BOSCO PREP FUND RAISING Based on the recommendations of the Meitler Study and as part of the implementation of our Centennial Strategic Plan, all Don Bosco Prep fundraising activities for all constituent groups will be coordinated through the Advancement Office.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a fundraiser, please contact Craig Austin, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, in St. John’s Hall or call him at 201-327-8003 ext. 126.

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ATTENTION ALL PARENTS/STUDENTS As we get close to the end of the 2012 – 2013 school year, we remind all of our students/parents that textbooks will need to be returned prior to taking the final exams in each class. Check to make sure you have not lost a textbook. If you have lost a textbook, please stop by the bookstore and speak with Mrs. Saglimbene to determine the cost of replacement, as you will need to reimburse the school for damaged or lost books.

Seniors who are exempt from finals or no longer need a book for class or to study, may return their textbooks to the bookstore to Mrs. Saglimbene, as soon as possible.

Seniors who have not returned all of their textbooks or have not made payment or reimbursement for lost book(s) will not receive their cap and gown and will not be permitted to “walk” at the graduation ceremony.

All other students will need to return their textbooks prior to taking final exams on the day of exams, or prior to exams, if the textbook is no longer needed in the class or to study for exams.

USED BOOKS = CASH The DBP Bookstore will be buying back supplementary books from our SENIOR students only, as of Monday, May 6

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Don Bosco Preparatory High School Official Diploma Frame Don Bosco Preparatory Bookstore, In conjunction with Framing Success, the established market leader of diploma framing is now offering this official diploma frame.

This frame may be purchased only at the DBP Bookstore or on our online site.

The frame will have a maroon and gold mat with the Don Bosco Preparatory High School Seal as well as the school name embossed in gold.

Price $85.00 Order Your Diploma Frame Now! You can contact or mail form to: Don Bosco Prep 492 N. Franklin Turnpike Ramsey, NJ 07446 Attention: Susan Saglimbene For more information call (201) 328-8003 Ext. 143 Fax (201) 327-3397 ssaglimbene@donboscoprep.com ORDER FORM: NAME: ____________________________________ STUDENT NAME: _________________________________ PHONE #: __________________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: ________________________________ Make check payable to: Don Bosco Prep Bookstore OR Circle One: Visa, M/C Amex Credit Card #: ___________________________ Expiration Date: _____________ Billing Zip Code: _________ If you using M/C indicate you billing address ____________________________________________________ 15 frame is ready for pick up.

You will be notified when your Did you want your son to pick this item up from the bookstore Circle Yes, or if it is a gift Circle No?

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Dear Bosco Moms, It is hard to believe that we are winding down the school year! The Mothers’ Guild is buzzing with excitement as we prepare for the year- end events and graduation festivities.

On May 8th 2012, DBP Administration will be hosting Orientation for the Class of 2017. Volunteers are needed to assist with refreshments from 5:307:30. Please contact Kathleen Martorano at kmartorano77@gmail.com if you can assist. We need 3 moms to help out at this event.

Graduation for the Class of 2013 is approaching quickly! The Senior Dinner, co-chaired by Kathy Mack and Theresa Ruoff, will be held on Thursday, May 30th at the school campus. Volunteers are needed to help with setup and cleanup. Please contact Kathy (bmack2001@aol.com) or Theresa (spinedoc1@hotmail.com) if you are able to volunteer. This is a great opportunity for junior moms to see what awaits them next year!

Finally our May meeting will be held on Monday, May 6th at 7:30 pm. It is at this meeting where we will provide details for all of the graduation activities so senior moms are encouraged to attend. We will also have a special gift for each of our moms for Mothers Day so please join us!!

Nominations are still being received for executive board positions for the 2013-14 school year. All moms of current students are eligible and must commit to a 2-year term beginning in June 2013. Please contact Kathleen Martorano or Theresa Ruoff if you are interested! This is a wonderful way to serve the Don Bosco community!

We wish all of our Bosco moms a Happy Mother’s Day! Kathleen Martorano & Theresa Ruoff Co-Presidents

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Yearbook Corner Senior Portraits Attention Parents of Juniors!! Your son’s Senior Portrait will be taken on either May 13, 14, 15 or 16 in the Auditorium. Please look for the appointment card that Lifetouch/Prestige Portraits will be sending to your home sometime in April. Please read it carefully as it also explains the different portrait packages you can order. If your son’s appointment day/ time needs to be changed, please have him see Ms. Fecht (2nd fl. St. Johns) as soon as possible. Also, please make sure your son is properly prepared for his picture – shaven and hair cut according to the handbook guidelines. Your son will be turned away if his appearance is questionable.

The Fathers’ Club welcomes everyone to our 64th Annual Sports Award Dinner May 29, 2013 at 6:30 PM On Campus

Please help us plan for this event by filling out the registration form on the following page as soon as possible and returning this to the main office of the school by May 24th. Please mark the envelope “Sports Award Dinner.”

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Don Bosco Prep Fathers’ Club

Sports Award Dinner

Wednesday May 29, 2013, 6:30 PM Don Bosco Prep Campus $15.00 per person, students $10.00 ($20.00 at door)

Join us in honoring our Student Athletes Come out and See the Ironman Awards

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Don Bosco Prep Fathers’ Club Sports Award Dinner Wednesday May 29, 2013, 6:30 PM Student Name__________________________ Amount Enclosed_________

Number Attending_______

Make checks payable to “Don Bosco Fathers’ Club” and return to main office, no later than May 24th.

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Summer Camps Football

Session 1 June 24 - June 27 Session 2 July 1,2,3,5 Session 3 July 8 - July 11 For more information contact Mrs. Murray (201) 327-8003 x 123 Or lmurray@donboscoprep.com

Baseball

Session 1 July 8—12 Session 2 July 15-19 For more information contact Coach Rooney mikerrooney@gmail.com

Basketball

Session 1 July 8-12 Session 2 July 15-July 19 For more information contact Coach Diverio (551) 486-6512 Moody Brothers Basketball Camp July 22-26 For further information contact Coach Moody (201) 681-6377

Lacrosse

Session 1 July 15 - July 19 Session 2 July 22 - July 26 Session 3 July 29— August 2 For more information contact Coach Springer (201) 841-5198 Or visionlacrosse.com

Soccer

Session 1 August 5-August 9 For more information contact Coach Sileo (550) 427-6469

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