PRESIDENT'S END-OF-YEAR UPDATE
SUMMER 2024
Highlights from our year, and for the year ahead.
In September 1964, several priests of the Society of the Precious Blood gathered with a small group of 9th grade boys on the campus of Ursuline High School, an all-girls school, to begin Cardinal Newman High School, an all-boys school. The following year the first buildings on the Newman campus opened: two classroom wings, a library with art rooms, a gym, and an administration building. Through the years, the early partnership with Ursuline grew and intertwined with shared classes, activities, dances, and even a shared yearbook and graduation ceremony. In 2011, Ursuline High School closed its doors, and its young women and inspiring legacy became one with Cardinal Newman High School.
As we celebrate sixty years of Cardinal Newman High School, we acknowledge the early partnership of our sister school, Ursuline High School and express our gratitude to the Ursuline Sisters who provided Catholic education in Santa Rosa from 1880-2011.
We look forward to the next 60 years of Faith, Leadership, and Service at Cardinal Newman High School.
CLASS OF 2024
CLASS OF 2024
On Saturday, June 1st, 2024, 125 Cardinals proudly received their diplomas. This graduating class achieved remarkable success, earning a diverse array of college acceptances and securing over $12,307,000 in scholarships! This year was particularly special as FOUR valedictorians shared the honor: Hannah Bickel, Grace Hiserote, Theo Ranney, and Konnor Rodnick.
Please join me in congratulating the Class of 2024 and celebrating our collective achievements.
Every graduation is a wonderful reminder of the exceptional dedication and work of our faculty, administration, and staff in "Educating students in the wholeness of body, mind, and soul."
We thank our school families for entrusting us with the education and formation of their children.
SCHOLARS CLASSOF2024
COLLEGE BOARD AP
HONOR SCHOLARS
Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams
COLLEGE BOARD AP SCHOLARS
Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams
GLOBAL SEAL OF BILITERACY
The Global Seal of Bi-literacy is awarded to students who show certain level of proficiency in Spanish or French, affirmed through their cores on their AP language exam
Grace Hiserote
Isaac Phelps
Alexandra Barnes
Kristen Danley
Shawet Shibeshi
Raymond Schweid
SENIOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Our Newman Seniors spent this year dedicated to service projects close to their hearts. In May, they shared their service journey with the Newman community through formal presentations on the impact of their service.
Click here Click here to read all about how our Seniors to read all about how our Seniors organized blood drives and food drives, worked with young students, explored future career paths, and gave back to organized blood drives and food drives, worked with young students, explored future career paths, and gave back to their community in meaningful ways, led by Newman’s core values of faith, leadership, and service. their community in meaningful ways, led by Newman’s core values of faith, leadership, and service.
CLASS OF 2028
We are thrilled to welcome our incoming students to the Cardinal Newman experience, with new members in every grade level! On May 16, we hosted our "Can’t
Wait ‘til Next Year” dinner, one of our favorite traditions, with over 110 families attending. Our newest Cardinals, from over 40 different middle and high schools, bring a spirit of academic excellence, perseverance, the desire to learn, and leadership potential. Welcome new Cardinals!
CLASS OF 2028 FUN FACTS:
49 freshmen are siblings or children of current students or alumni
Five languages spoken other than English
Four are children of faculty members
For the first time in 5 years, we welcome more girls into the freshmen class than boys!
FAITH IS EVERY WHERE
Spiritual Momentum at Newman
Newman High School emphasizes spiritual growth as an essential part of student development. Morning prayer sets a spiritual tone for the day, and activities like retreats, reflections, sharing, and cultural celebrations deepen one’s connections to their faith. Our faculty is committed to embedding spirituality in all aspects of education, valuing spiritual development equally with academic excellence. Activities such as art projects, community initiatives, artistic and athletic events, and heartfelt gestures from Campus Ministry all reflect the school's commitment to nurturing each student's spirituality.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
What sets CN’s service program apart is our focus on the Christian values of compassion, kindness, justice, integrity, courage, and humility. Our commitment to these fundamental values means that our students not only engage in meaningful acts of service, but they also discover what it truly means to serve with purpose and heart.
2023-2024 Stats:
15,475
Totalhoursofservice
543
Volunteerswithinourorganization
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
On the Thursday before Easter, our faculty and staff were joined by a group of students to embody the spirit of Maundy Thursday with a heartfelt day of service. From gardening at the Village Charter School to preparing events at the Boys & Girls Club Petaluma, we served all over the community, lending hands and hearts where needed most.
FFA & Ag Sciences
Cardinal Newman's FFA Program had a big year! Highlights include participating in the FFA Leadership Conference in Sacramento along with over 7,000 attendees, and our inaugural Annual Awards Banquet, recognizing our members' achievements with over 82 awards given to 40 students. Exciting plans are underway for next year, including the addition of a new greenhouse to expand opportunities for our FFA students!
MODEL UN
This Spring, 32 Cardinal Newman students, including 18 seniors, traveled to UC Berkeley for Model UN (BMUN).
BMUN is a simulation of the United Nations in which students play the role of delegates from different countries attempting to solve real-world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. At the three-day weekend conference, Newman students represented 17 countries and discussed, debated, and voted on global topics such as human rights and climate change.
Mr. Geoffrion, our Model UN Coordinator, was the lead faculty representative, supported by Dr. Berry and Mr. Langland. Still, much of the actual legwork was accomplished through the leadership of seniors Jenna Frampton, Sarah Frampton, and Riley McIntosh, all threeyear veterans of BMUN.
NEW CLASSES OFFERED NEXT YEAR
AP French Language and Culture
AP Macroeconomics
AP Research
Year 2 of the AP Capstone Program following AP Seminar
Honors Government
AP Environmental Science for FFA students
Intro to Maker - Freshman Elective - Innovation Lab
Theater and Theater Production
Geometry class dedicated to Freshmen
ARTS ALIV
Art thrives at CNHS, as evidenced by our recent Arts Alive Celebrations. Our visual artists started the festivities with a captiva gallery exhibit, setting the stage for our inaugural Arts Alive Celebration, where exceptional student artists were honored. Congratulations to all! (Click here to revie the Arts Alive recognition slide show).
Many thanks to Gabrielle Thompson, Director of the Arts Alive program, and our Arts team: Morris Acevedo, Joey Castor, Jason Farthing, Zachary Hasbany, and Garrick Maul. We especially want to thank the newly established parent Arts Committee for all they have accomplished this year!
The Modern Rock Band not only played a sold-out show at the HopMonk Sebastopol again this year, but also added energy and fun to many core Newman events this year, like our Alumni Homecoming BBQ, Admissions Preview Day, Day on the Green, and more.
They also added a fun and playful vibe as the year came to a close with creative lip-dub music videos. Stay tuned - they have a big plan to kick off the next school year with a giant schoolwide lip-dub video!
ARTSALIVE
You never know what you’ll find when you walk into the Innovation Center. On any given day, you might hear ping-pong balls ricocheting across the room as Engineering students design and test the perfect paddle. You might see students building a racecar powered by a rat trap, or “reverse-engineering” a broken PlayStation controller. With Mr. Jason Farthing at the helm, the center has quickly blossomed into a dynamic arena where students and teachers collaborate, extending the boundaries of traditional learning.
Our Digital Design / Media Arts Classes have also left their mark on the Newman campus! Working with advanced digital tools, they have designed awardwinning posters, created movie trailers starring themselves and their classmates, produced media materials for Newman events, and designed logos for our Arts Alive program.
Our Dance Program put together two incredible shows this year. Their Fall performance, “Curtain Call,” channeled the best of Broadway hits, showcasing our dancers’ incredible choreography and unfettered joy on stage. In the Spring, they presented “Kaleidoscope,” a performance that explored complex emotions and highlighted the amazing talent of our Newman dance students.
ARTSALIVE
ATHLETICS
2023-2024 marked an extraordinary year of athletic accomplishment! Here are just a few highlights among our many accomplishments last year! Our scholar-athletes impress us daily with their perseverance, dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We are grateful for the support of coaches, assistance coaches, athletic trainers, support staff, and parent volunteers.
*Compiled by the CN Athletics Department
FALL SPORTS
MEN’S WATER POLO:
VVAL League Champions
VVAL Tournament Champions
NCS Division 2 Scholastic Champions
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL:
NORCAL Qualifier
19 Game Win Streak
NCS #1 Seed D4
WOMEN’S WATER POLO:
VVAL Tournament Runner-Up
CROSS COUNTRY:
Gwen Brockett, State Qualifier
CHEER:
New Head Cheer Coach Stephanie Kodweis
WOMEN’S TENNIS:
Overall season: 18-3, League 16-2
NBL All League: First-Team Singles
Sophia Manville; Second-Team
Singles, Suzanna Hextrum; First-Team
Doubles, Isabella Finnerty, Alena Bardashova; Second-Team Doubles,
Matisse Gallo, Lilian Roache
FALL SPORTS
FOOTBALL:
NCS Division 3 Runner Up
NCS Division 3 Scholastic
Champions
FLAG FOOTBALL:
First Season in Program History
NCS Scholastic Champions
Zach Homan:
Press Democrat All-Star Athlete of the Year
2,428 Rushing Yards (School Record)
37 Rushing TDs (School Record)
WOMEN’S GOLF:
Undefeated NBL Champions
NCS Division 2 Runner Up
Ella Foley, Press Democrat Female Golfer of the Year; NBL-Oak Golfer of the Year
WINTER SPORTS
WOMEN’S SOCCER:
Undefeated NBL Champions
NCS Division 3 Runner Up
NorCal Qualifier
MEN’S SOCCER:
NorCal Runner Up
NCS Division 4 Champions
NCS Division 4 #1 Seed
NCS Division 4 Scholastic
Champions
Undefeated NBL Champions
14-Game Unbeaten Streak
Top 25 in State
WINTER SPORTS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
NCS Open Division Champions
10th Consecutive Undefeated
NBL Championship
Top 10 in the State (All Divisions)
CIF State Open Division Qualifier
26 Game Winning Streak
Nationally Ranked (22)
Kate Schat 1,000 points
MEN’S BASKETBALL:
NBL Regular Season Co-Champions
Sutter Home Classic Champions
Rose City Tournament Champions
Sonoma County Classic Champions
17 Game Win Streak
Tatum Kurpinsky 1,000 points
WRESTLING:
Devon Bertoli
NBL Heavyweight Champion
NCS Heavyweight Champion
State Qualifier
Jonah Bertoli
NCS Runner-Up, 177 LB Division
State Qualifier
Eric McDonell
NBL Champion 120 LB Division
SPRING SPORTS
BASEBALL:
NCS Division 2 #1 seed
NBL Tournament Champions
Undefeated NBL Champions
Boras Classic Runner-Up
2-0 victory over Ukiah at Oracle Park
“Three-peat” NCS Section Champions
Norcal Champions, Division 2
Jack Pezzolo, Perfect Game, 18 K: Most
strikeouts in a game by a Newman Pitcher
SOFTBALL:
NBL Regular Season Co-Champions
NBL Tournament Champions
Repeat NCS Section Champions
MEN’S LACROSSE:
Most Successful Season in Program History (14-4)
WOMEN’S LACROSSE:
Callie Howard, 18 K: Most strikeouts in a game by a Newman Pitcher
Successful rebuilding year with new players; 4-5 league record
Bianca Chanduvi: Made the USA Lacrosse National Team
All-League Honors: Bianca Chanduvi, Brianna Marotto, Leah Mauritson
SPRING SPORTS
MEN’SGOLF:
CardinalNewmanClassicChampions
JaredRoy,NorCalQualifier
BEACH VOLLEYBALL CLUB:
Hosted first Home event (Spring Hills)
Advanced to Norcal Beach Championship Tournament
MEN’S TENNIS:
Finished 2nd in the NBL with an (8-1) league record and a (9-3) overall record.
MEN’SVOLLEYBALL:
BestSeasoninProgramHistory(14-10)
Growing roster, 19 athletes strong in their 3rd season of competition
Aiden Buerger selected to compete in the NBL Singles Championships featuring the top 16 singles players
NBL All-League Team Selections: Aiden Buerger, Davis Walsh, Brydan Aguirre, Josh Buerger, Dante Natale, and Aidan Hester
SPRING SPORTS
SWIMMING:
Natalie Farquhar
Press Democrat All-Star Scholar-Athlete of the Year
NCS Champion 200 freestyle, NBL
Champion 200 freestyle, NBL Champion
500 freestyle
State Qualifier
Set School Record in 500 Freestyle:
4:57.30 and in 200 Freestyle: 1:49.17
Eric McDonell
State Qualifier
CIF State Class I Paralympic 3rd Place
100 Free, 1:03.20 (School Record)
CIF State Class I Paralympic 4th Place
50 Free, 28.75 (School Record)
James Gannon
NBL Champion 500 + 200 Freestyle
Set New School Record in 500 Free: 4:42.91
Sienna Menconi
NBL Champion 50 + 100 Freestyle
Girls 200 Freestyle Relay NBL Champions: Jordyn
Menconi, Sienna Menconi, Morgan Puckett, Natalie Farquhar
Set New School Record: 1:37.64
State Qualifier
Girls 200 Medley Relay NBL Champions: Natalie Farquhar, Lydia Cunningham, Morgan Puckett, Jordyn Menconi
Set New School Record: 1:51.60
Girls 400 Freestyle Relay NBL Champions: Sienna Menconi, Grace Thumhart, Emma Lando, Lydia Cunningham
SPRING SPORTS
TRACK & FIELD:
NBL Champions
NCS Runner Up
Santiago Adan
New Discus School Record: 181.7 ft
NBL, NCS Discus Champion
CIF State Qualifier
Press Democrat Boy’s Field Co-Athlete of the Year
Jake Joerger
NBL, NCS Shot Put Champion
NCS Discus Runner-Up
CIF State Qualifier
Press Democrat Boy’s Field Co-Athlete of the Year
Devon Bertoli
NCS Shot Out Runner-Up
CIF State Qualifier
Liam Currie
NBL 400M Dash Champion
NCS 400M Dash Runner Up
CIF State Qualifier
Hellos + Goodbyes
We send our prayers and best wishes as our departing faculty and staff embark on their next big adventure.
Every arrival marks the beginning of a new journey, and every departure is a fond farewell filled with gratitude.
Becca Chong Academic Librarian
Laura Corriveau Counselor
Vernon Smith Associate Athletics Director, Interim Dean of Students
Garrick Maul, Arts
Mr. Maul is retiring to trave will remain part of the CN Community as a substitute teacher.
Chris Langland th Interventionist
ra Trombetta
lish Teacher
CAMPUS CHAPLAIN
Please join us in sending our best wishes to Father Plass, who has been appointed by Bishop Vasa to be the pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Occidental and St. Teresa of Avila Mission in Bodega.
Thank you, Father Plass, for your four years of service to the Cardinal Newman community—students, families, faculty, and staff—in this joint undertaking of moving from shadows and images to the clear light of truth.
We welcome Father Christopher Girolo, who was recently ordained to the priesthood at St. Eugene's Cathedral by Bishop Vasa. Father Girolo taught Theology at Newman two years ago, and we are delighted to have him back with us as our new Chaplain.
WELCOME NEW TEACHERS & STAFF
Rene Cortes - Weekend Facilities Staff
Tamara Evans - Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable Specialist
Dr. Marc Evans - English Teacher
Dr. Evans is joining us from Marin Catholic High School
Joe Frias - Theology Teacher
Mr. Frias is joining us from Archbishop Riordan High School
Atalie Halpin - Part-time Arts Teacher
Ms. Halpin is returning to Newman, where she previously taught Studio Art and English, and served as Assistant Track Coach
Leonor Lopez - Evening Facilities Staff
Jon Peterson - Director of Operations
Mr. Peterson has been part of the GMH team and led efforts for the construction of our new SLC and Chapel, we are excited to have him join the Newman Team
We are thrilled to have Mr. John Gilson back on campus as our Dean of Students! Mr. Tino Fonzeca will
be assisting Mr. Gilson as co-Dean of Students.
GOVERNANCE
The Board of Trustees, appointed by the Bishop of Santa Rosa, has the vital role of governance of Cardinal Newman High School. Their primary objective is to ensure that Cardinal Newman consistently aligns its decisions and activities with the school's long-term commitment and mission. The Board of Trustees holds key responsibilities in the effective operation of the school, including fiduciary oversight, mission and vision alignment, and strategic direction. Comprising members from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, they are united by their collective dedication to steering Cardinal Newman High School toward continued excellence, as defined in the school’s Strategic Plan.
We Thank our 2023-24 Board of Trustees Fr. Moses Brown Chaplain for the Board of Trustees
Teejay Lowe, CN '93 Board Chair
Bridgette Bolte, '07
Tracy
Doria
Krissy
Dr. Linda Norman
President Dr. Adrian Peterson
Superintendent
Niessia Diehl
Dutton, UHS '88
Trombetta
Zichichi
In the photo above: At the conclusion of her term, Board Chair, Teejay Lowe thanks Trustee Niessia Diehl for her service on the Board and her work with the Academics & Student Life Committee.
Board of Trustees
STRATEGIC PLAN
We thank the Trustees for their oversight and participation in the Board’s five subcommittees, who monitor achievement in the school’s strategic plan:
Academics & Student Life
Catholic Identity
Advancement & Enrollment
Governance
Finance & Facilities
ST. JOHN HENRY NEWMAN CHAPEL
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
In an intimate ceremony on June 26, 2024, the St. John Henry Newman Chapel was dedicated by Bishop Robert Vasa. We are thrilled to witness the completion of our beautiful chapel, located in the heart of our campus.
Standing tall as the pinnacle of our architectural landscape, it symbolizes the very essence of our community. Our deepest gratitude to the many donors who made this special place possible.
JOINOUR LEGACY
We're extending an invitation to our Newman community to contribute to our enduring legacy through our Chapel Pew Sponsorship Program.
With a gift of $5,000, donors can sponsor one of our newly installed pews, giving a gift that will endure for generations to come.
Our new chapel stands as a symbol of our community’s dedication and faith.
Learn more about this opportunity at
www.cardinalnewman.org/pew-sponsorship
THANK YOU
Principal Reynolds and I are proud of all Cardinal Newman High School has accomplished together with God’s abundant blessings. As one Cardinal Newman family, we are well poised to carry this momentum forward into 2024 and beyond.
Thank you for your support and dedication.
In the spirit of the motto of St. John Henry Newman, cor ad cor loquitur, from our hearts to yours, I wish you all the best for the summer and the school year ahead
Dr. Linda Norman
