2017-18: Celebrating Our Students

2017-18: Celebrating Our Students

JUSTIN-SIENA Class of 2018 • 152 graduates; Justin-Siena’s 49th Commencement • 192 universities/colleges issued acceptance to Braves • 97% attending college (76% to 4 yr./21% to 2 yr.)

• 23 grads attending Forbes “Top 100” 2017 Best Colleges • $6.3M awarded in college scholarships

CONGRATULATIONS! MEMBERS of the CLASS OF 2018 were ACCEPTED at the following Colleges and Universities Adams State University American River College American University Arizona State University Australian National University Azusa Pacific University Baylor University Belmont Abbey College Belmont University Boise State University Boston College Boston University Bryant University Bucknell University Cal Maritime California College of the Arts (San Francisco) California Lutheran University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo California State Polytechnic University - Pomona California State University, Channel Islands, Chico, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Sacramento, Stanislaus Carnegie Mellon University Chapman University Chestnut Hill College Clemson University Colorado Mesa University Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Concordia University - Irvine Cornell University Cosumnes River College Cuesta College Dean College DePaul University Diablo Valley College Dominican University of California Drexel University Duke University Elon University Fairfield University Fordham University Fort Lewis College Franklin & Marshall College Franklin University Switzerland Furman University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gonzaga University

Grand Canyon University Harvey Mudd College Hawaii Pacific University High Point University Hofstra University Humboldt State University IE University - Madrid Indiana University at Bloomington Irvine Valley College John Cabot University King’s College London Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Lewis-Clark State College Linfield College Loyola Marymount University Loyola University New Orleans Maryland Institute College of Art Marymount Manhattan College Menlo College Montana State University, Bozeman Napa Valley College New York University Northeastern University Northern Arizona University Norwich University Notre Dame de Namur University Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences Occidental College Oklahoma City University Olin College of Engineering Oregon State University Otis College of Art and Design Pace University, New York City Paul Mitchell Beauty School Pepperdine University Pitzer College Point Park University Portland State University Pratt Institute Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rider University Rochester Institute of Technology Sacramento City College Saint Louis University, Madrid Saint Mary’s College of California

San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Santa Barbara City College Santa Clara University Santa Fe College Santa Rosa Junior College Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of Visual Arts Seattle Central College Seattle University Seton Hall University Sierra Nevada College Smith College Sonoma State University Southern Methodist University Stanford University Suffolk University Syracuse University Texas Christian University The Catholic University of America The College of Idaho The George Washington University The New School - All Divisions The University of Alabama The University of Arizona The University of Edinburgh The University of Manchester The University of Melbourne Trinity College Tufts University United States Naval Academy Universidad Carlos III de Madrid University of British Columbia University of California, Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Denver University of Colorado, Colorado Springs University of Connecticut University of Dallas University of Denver

WE BELIEVE, WE LOVE, WE WILL | WE ARE ALL HEART

University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Idaho University of Illinois at Chicago University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisiana University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Nevada, Reno University of New Mexico University of North Dakota University of Northern Colorado University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Portland University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Florida, Tampa University of Southern California University of Southern Mississippi University of Stirling University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of the Pacific University of Utah University of Washington University of Washington, Tacoma University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Wyoming Utah State University Vanderbilt University Villanova University Washington State University Wesleyan University Western State Colorado University Westmont College Whitman College Whittier College Whitworth University Willamette University Woodbury University Bold indicates at least one member of the Class of 2018 will attend this college in the Fall.

2017-18: Celebrating Our Students The following month-by-month highlights are just a glimpse of our year at Justin-Siena.

Read more about these and other stories online at www.justin-siena.org.

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

• The Mass of the Holy Spirit is celebrated in Patrons Plaza.

•

•

A new athletic league for the Braves is announced. As a product of North Coast Section (NCS) realignment, Justin-Siena will be competing in a new league—the Vine Valley Athletic League (VVAL). The membership of the VVAL is: Justin-Siena, Vintage, Napa, American Canyon, Sonoma Valley, Petaluma, and Casa Grande.

Play begins in August 2018.

Welcome to the Class of 2021: 131 students join the Braves from 34 different schools, 4 countries, and 3 counties.

• The newly renovated Clark Gym is officially blessed at the Back to School Prayer Service.

•

Student leaders earn the highest honor at the annual Lasallian Youth Assembly—a General Excellence Award for creating an all heart campus culture. “We Will” theme is introduced for the 2017-18 year.

•

Justin-Siena Theatre receives 22 Arty Award nominations for 2016-17 productions. These are annual theatre awards sponsored by the Daily Republic for Solano and Napa counties honoring outstanding achievements in performing arts, and most notably, their production of Sister Act.

•

Taking a break from class assessments and discussions of the 2017 summer One School, One Book: All the Light we Can not See, students and teachers got a glimpse of the solar eclipse under cloudy skies.

•

Several teachers pilot masterybased learning. For example, Ms. Ciabatarri’s AP Language class analyzes Queen Elizabeth’s speech to the troops at Tilbury through re-enactment to practice rhetorical analysis skills.

•

Advisory Program expands to all grades and includes Advisory Bowl competitions. The first event is a human bulldozer race on the North Lawn.

•

The Admissions Office hosts the first of 12, well attended Brave for a Day shadow events for prospective families. Thanks to our student ambassadors for modeling service for these future Braves through their leadership and spirit.

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Braves volunteers get a front row seat to some of golf’s greats like John Daly and Phil Mickelson while staffing a concession booth at the 18th hole of The Safeway Open. Funds raised go to Braves Alliance which supports Justin-Siena programs like athletics, arts, robotics, and mock trial!

•

Wine Country Wildfires close school for two weeks. While loss was felt throughout the community, the Braves spirit was strong, and the Lasallian spirit of service shone through as many were quick to lend a hand in relief efforts and general support modeling “Enter to learn; Leave to serve” Lasallian motto.

•

Justin-Siena hosts Feed the Firsts, a collaborative community event organized by local chefs who teamed up in a collective act of gratitude. More than 600 meals were served/delivered to our first responders thanks to our army of Braves volunteers.

•

From the “Elements” themed spirit week and Braves Blowout to the big game and halftime festivities, Braves showed heart at Homecoming 2018.

Hakushin Zhang ’18 and Juliette Nast ’18 were named King and Queen.

NOVEMBER •

Actors take the driver’s seat in the fall play—JS Theatre’s production of Driven offers the audience the novel experience of watching one-act plays from the back seat of a car (truck or bus)!

•

Our Robotics teams host the 4th Annual FIRST Lego League Robotics Qualifying Tournament. Building on the success of the last two years and an increased interest in robotics, the Justin-Siena FTC robotics teams, Team 10434 Negative Kelvin and Team 12009 Terminal Ferocity, went on to have a very successful season.

•

Justin-Siena’s Film Studies classes play host to renowned filmmakers, Mark Hayes and Gabrielle Hayes, at our fall Film Forum. Mark and Gabrielle were in town to present their social justice documentary “Skid Row Marathon” as part of the Napa Valley Film Festival.

•

Braves fall season highlights: girls water polo captured the MCAL championship and competed in the MCAL Playoffs semi-finals and the NCS quarter finals; boys water polo made it to both MCAL playoffs and NCS Tournament; volleyball qualified for MCALs/NCS and CIFTournamentsandJuliaSangiacomo’18 was named Napa County Player of the Year; football and cross country earned NCS Scholastic Team and both qualified for NCS; runner Hannah Chau ’18 finished 4th at MCALs; girls tennis made it to the MCAL playoffs and Jenna Curtola ’19 won the MCAL singles championship over teammate Parvathi Shanker ’20 in the finals.

DECEMBER

•

Advent kicks off with a “Lift-Up” Lunch for Cardinal Newman High School on the Feast of St. Nicholas.

Bag lunches are prepared and delivered with a spirit of hope to our displaced, fire-devasted friends.

•

Braves perform in the 2nd annual “Day of Dance & Cheer” which brought out more than 300 of Napa’s local dancers and cheerleaders for a day of unity.

JANUARY

•

Taking advantage of time-off for winter break, several of our youngest alums organize a Q&A for current seniors to alleviate anxiety over the transition to college.

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The 33rd annual Crab Fest is a success thanks to all who attended, served at, volunteered for, and made it possible. It was a great evening celebrating the Justin-Siena community, and we are grateful for such support!

FEBRUARY •

Justin-Siena students take on the Mime-a-Thon challenge to make headlines raising money and showcasing their ability to communicate without using words for an entire day.

•

Ash Wednesday kicks off the successful Change for Our World Lenten almsgiving drive to raise money for our Lasallian Twinning school in Ethiopia—the class “coin wars” proved quite effective!

MARCH

•

Community members gather to remember an icon—Br. Conrad Kearney, FSC was a fixture on campus since the beginning. He passed peacefully on February 5, 2018 at Mont La Salle. A steady presence within the Justin-Siena community since he joined the faculty in 1968 on a transfer from the New York District, Br. Conrad was beloved by decades of Braves.

Just a couple of months shy of his 99th birthday, Br. Conrad led a rich life of faith and indelibly touched the hearts of all who knew him.

• Braves Mock Trial named county champs for 5th straight year with an undefeated record of 5-0!

• To kick off Catholic Schools Week, several Braves participate in the 14th Annual Walk for Life in San Francisco.

•

Photographer Alex Kirley ‘19 is selected to exhibit his photographs in 2017 AMERICA—photography from American High Schools at Gramercy Gallery in NYC.

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Braves in the community: Victoria Su ‘18 earns first place in the Rotary Club of North Napa Speech Contest with her speech about gender equity.

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Despite some rescheduling due to the wildfires, more than 100 colleges made on-campus admissions presentations.

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First semester finishes with concerts, a Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and hot chocolate study breaks.

•

Art students curate and mount a 4-county, juried exhibition at the Napa Valley Museum called “First Response”—a showcase by students for students; a framework for youth to articulate reactions to local fires. Nicole Drawsky ’18 earns Peoples Choice Award and the honor of sharing her piece through a permanent loan agreement.

•

“Sempre Fortis,” the Justin-Siena Literary Magazine, receives a rank of Excellent in the 2017 NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines.

•

Olivia Boles ‘19 and Mary Catherine Hyde ‘19 earn 4th straight county win for the Braves in National Poetry Out Loud competition.

•

Justin-Siena Hall of Honor Ceremony honors the following alums for living out the mission: Samuel G. Roberson Jr. ‘01 (Posthumous), Giovanni Guerrera ‘88, Timothy P. Malloy ‘87, Sean Pramuk ‘88, and Melissa Weakley ‘06.

•

Spring musical production of Guys and Dolls packs Lincoln Theater for 2 straight weekends, and was dedicated to the Veterans Home victims.

APRIL

MAY •

Lasallian, school, and community leaders gather for a Groundbreaking Ceremony for Watermark, a 173unit senior housing project on the northeast corner of campus.

This highly anticipated 22-month construction project paves the way to ensure access to Catholic education for future generations of Braves, as is a main commitment of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

• ACCESS 707 online wine auction surpasses goal. Look for even more bidding opportunities next year!

•

Justin-Siena receives the distinction of being a 2017-18 Project Lead the Way Distinguished School for achievement in STEM education.

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Girls lacrosse takes on East Coast competition in Annapolis and tours historic sites and the Naval Academy over the Easter break.

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Earning prestigious recognition for their academic achievement, Natalie Gulrajani ’18 and Matt Kenaston ’18 are named as two of 15,000 National Merit Finalists, less than one percent of the high school seniors in the United States, in the 2018 National Merit Program.

• 228 students take 463 Advanced Placement exams in 23 subjects.

•

Our theatre students earn a 100% pass rate on their performance exams with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art who all passed with Merit or Distinction.

We are the only licensed testing center in NorCal, and were the 1st stop on their American tour.

•

Braves winter sports highlights: several wrestlers competed at NCS and took golds; boys basketball qualified for NCS and earned Scholastic Team distinction; girls basketball qualified for both MCAL and NCS with Ashlee Whittemore being named Napa County Player of the Year.

JUNE

• The Spring Out-of-State College Fair welcomes reps from more than 50 institutions.

More on our Grads . . .

We wish we had the space to talk about every one of them, but these tidbits should serve to illustrate their breadth of talent, passion, and heart.

• One student out of only two in all of Napa County earned congressional nominations from Congressman Mike Thompson to the US Naval Academy and will be starting his path to public service this fall.

•

Braves spring sports highlights: boys tennis extended to MCALs and earned NCS Scholastic Team honors; girls lacrosse qualified for both MCALs and NCS; boys golf qualified for the NCS and George Gardner ’18 was selected the MCAL’s Bobby Jones Sportsmanship Award Winner; Track and Field saw the boys finish 4th at the NCS Redwood Empire Meet and eleven Braves advanced in the NCS Meet of Champions; baseball qualified for NCS and knocked off Cardinal Newman in the opening round; Swimming and Diving advanced 6 swimmers to NCS.

•

Students and staff select the following as being recipients of these annual distinguished awards—Br. Lawrence Award: Cynthia Paniagua ’74, Attendance Officer; Holy Spirit Award: Bob Bailey, Chief Operations Officer; Lasallian Educator of the Year Award: Sarah Neidhoefer, Director of Lasallian Student Life.

• Three students are taking their performing arts talents to renowned vocal, dance, and theater programs in Nashville, TN, Lawrenceville, NJ and New York, NY. • After Justin-Siena, six students will be continuing their Lasallian journeys in colleges run by the Brothers.

• Five students are pursuing nursing degrees at colleges and universities in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Utah.

• Several athletes signed letters with NCAA programs in lacrosse, softball, swim, track & field, including a DI spot on the UC Irvine cross country team and a spot on the DI UC Davis and UC San Diego water polo teams.

• They will embark on their college careers all over the world - in Brazil, Canada, England, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

• Two students are taking their passion and talent for design to two of the country’s best architecture and engineering schools: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Georgia Tech.

• True to our heritage, some of our graduates will be studying every element of the wine industry at schools from UC Davis, to Cal Poly SLO, Sonoma State to Napa Valley College.

• Our students have earned 82 acceptances and 23 will enroll into top 100 colleges and universities.” (Based on Forbes Top 100 Colleges ) • One student is pursuing his pilot’s license while studying political science at Utah State.

Please pray for the Class of 2018 as they begin the next chapter in their lives. If you run into them, please congratulate them and continue to encourage them. As you are out and about in Napa, Solano, and Sonoma— or in places far away­­—please take time to brag about them. And if you live in one of their new communities, please contact us so that we can connect you—it would mean the world to have family so far away.

JUSTIN-SIENA is a Catholic high school in the Lasal-

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lian tradition offering a college preparatory program that serves approximately 545 young men and women in grades 9–12. Founded in 1966 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers and the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, the school is located on forty acres in the City of Napa and is in the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Justin-Siena serves a variety of students from Napa, Sonoma, and Solano Counties.

Fall Athletics Season Begins Monday, August 13, 2018 (Football–July 30) First Day of School Thursday, August 16, 2018 Mass of the Holy Spirit Thursday, September 6, 2018 Patrons Plaza

Fall Theatre Production October 25-28, 2018 Location TBA

Spring Musical March 14-24, 2019 Lincoln Theater

Winter Athletics Season Begins Monday, October 29, 2018

Brave Art Opening Reception Thursday, April 4, 2019 Gasser Center Gallery

Winter Instrumental Concert Saturday, December 1, 2018 Siena Hall

Fall Film Forum Friday, September 28, 2018 Dining Hall

Winter Choral Concert Saturday, December 8, 2018 The Chapel at Mont La Salle

Homecoming Braves Blowout Thursday, September 20, 2018 Clark Gym & North Campus

ComedySportz High School League January 24-27, 2019 Siena Hall

Homecoming/ Pre-Game Alumni Reception Braves vs. Petaluma Friday, September 21, 2018 Dodd Stadium

34th Annual Crab Fest Saturday, February 2, 2019 Clark Gym

Safeway Open—Concessions October 1-7, 2018 Volunteer-based fundraiser for Braves Alliance

Spring Athletics Season Begins Monday, Janaury 28, 2019 Spring Film Forum Friday, February 8, 2019 Dining Hall

Spring Music Concert April 6, 2019 Siena Hall ACCESS 707 Online Wine Auction May 2-5, 2019 Cocktails in the Clark Kick-off on May 2 Spring Dance Production May 3-5, 2019 Siena Hall Founders Day/1966 Society Reception Friday, May 3, 2019 Baccalaureate Mass Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Patrons Plaza Graduation Thursday, May 30, 2019 North Lawn

JUSTIN-SIENA ANNUAL FUND: A Worthy Investment As we celebrate the Class of 2018 and reflect on the 2017-18 school year, we recognize and are especially grateful for the many blessings that we share as a school community. We remain steadfast in our ongoing commitment to excellence in education and the opportunity to enrich the lives of the students entrusted to our care.

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MISSION STATEMENT Justin-Siena is a Catholic high school in the Lasallian tradition called to provide educational excellence in a loving, Christ-centered community that prepares students to serve and to lead in an ever-changing world.

It is with a spirit of

SINCERE GRATITUDE that we celebrate our generous alumni, parents, and friends whose

INVESTMENT IN OUR MISSION makes Justin-Siena a place where students are prepared to serve and to lead in an ever-changing world.