The Catalyst, Volume 9, Issue 1: September 2022

The Sharks: Freshman class of 2026 joins the sisterhood

Meredith Essalat, ‘98 begins tenure as NDB head of school

by Mia Muzzi Managing Editor

The Class of 2026, who have named themselves the Sharks in line with their class color of blue, have officially start ed their first year of high school at NDB. They start ed the school year strong in school spirit, placing third at the Welcome Back rally. With many activities planned for the year, the Sharks can look forward to an exciting freshman year.

The first event of many for the Sharks was Freshmen Orientation on August 12. There, they were supported by Link Crew and ASB in learning about what to expect at NDB in their first few weeks at school. After learning how to open their lockers, tour ing campus and participat ing in icebreaker activities, the Freshmen joined their parents for dinner in the Father Downey Garden.

“Orientation was a really fun way to be able

to meet my classmates and see the school before it started,” shared freshman Alexandra Charnas.

Julianna Loar and Tali Cuneo, members of the freshman class, reflected on their experiences after be ing on campus for nearly a month.

“It’s been pret ty fun. I know a lot more people now and I’ve been making so many friends. It’s just been good to hang out with them,” said Loar. “The classes were rough at

first but now that I’m actu ally getting into it, they’re making a lot more sense and I’m enjoying it.”

“High school has definitely been an adjust ment from middle school, but so far it’s been good,” Cuneo stated.

On August 26, the NDB tradition of Big/Little Sister day took place. Each freshman was paired with a junior to be her big sister. In June, the sister classes

See SHARKS| Page 6

College application season begins for seniors

Director of College Counseling Dina Cunha guides them through the process

by Editorial Staff

On August 1, the University of California and Common App por tals opened to the Class of 2023. These portals allow students to begin adding colleges to their application lists, view essay prompts and officially apply to schools. The work began much earlier as students began requesting letters of recommendation and writ ing essays during the sum mer. For Dr. Dina Cunha, NDB’s college counselor, the work is year-round.

Within the first few weeks of the school year, Cunha’s work con sists of ensuring that all seniors have updated the information on their col lege lists and making sure transcripts are in order.

September is the begin ning of “essay season” for college applications, and seniors need to start final izing what schools they are considering in order to focus on their main essays as well as deadlines for each individual school. So far, the class of 2023 has been on top of their col lege workload, with most students submitting tran script forms and college list changes on time.

“For those of you who are early action, early decision, you’re going to have to put your ducks in a row a lot quicker,” said Cunha. “So that means not only updating your college list early… but also mak ing sure your essays are pretty much done for those

by Molly Phan Editor in Chief

On July 1, 2022, Meredith Essalat, ‘98 assumed office as NDB’s new head of school. As an NDB alum na herself, she describes her return to campus as “coming home” to the community that she credits for the person she is today.

Essalat graduated from NDB as a member of the Class of 1998, whose class color and mascot were the Blue Sharks. As the current freshman Class of 2026 has also been named the Blue Sharks, she feels an “incredible con nection” to the students already.

As a Tiger, Essalat stayed very involved on cam pus. She served as the Editor in Chief of the yearbook during her senior year and also as a teacher’s assistant (TA) for several years. Ultimately, her favorite parts of high school revolved around her passion for writing.

“I loved to write, I still do. So all of my favorite classes were really the ones around language arts and so cial sciences,” Essalat shared.

Essalat’s favorite memories during her time as a student reflect the close-knit environment that NDB is most known for. She recalls feeling bonded with her class during the Sophomore Overnight which was an on-cam pus sleepover event, as well as during the Junior Ring

Community reflects on post-Roe America

by Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer

On June 24 of this year, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark case enshrining the right to an abortion, Roe v. Wade. The overruling case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, hands the decision of abortion access to the state level.

In many parts of the nation, laws restricting or completely eliminating abortion access went into effect immediately. Thirteen states – Arkansas, Idaho, Ken tucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming – passed “trigger laws” on abortions deemed medically unnecessary prior to the ruling, which took immediate effect when the Dobbs ruling was hand ed down. Trigger laws take effect as soon as they are viewed permissible by the constitution, making the time that states allowed abortion after the ruling nonexistent. Other states followed suit, with their restricted or banned abortion access laws passed shortly after the decision.

“It’s pretty unprecedented,” commented Elise Spenner, Editor in Chief of High School SCOTUS, a podcast dedicated to analyzing Supreme Court rul ings. “A lot of the rulings that would be seen as this

EVA NICHTER / THE CATALYST

Seniors begin the application process through portals, such as Common App.

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

On Friday, September 16, the Sharks elected Brooke True, Lizzie Johnson, Tali Cuneo, Nelly Hickson, Emma Downing, Kate McClenahan and Alex Davidow to serve on their class council.

Bay Area celebrates annual Hispanic Heritage Month

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

Hispanic Heritage Month will be observed from September 15 through October 15, and “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation” will serve as the theme in the United States this year. Hispanic Heri tage Month is centered around the Indepen dence Days of various Central Ameri

es Department Chair Anna Gavidia was born in El Sal vador and came to the Unit ed States when she was 16. She teaches multiple Span ish courses at NDB, and fo cuses many of her lessons on Hispanic culture.

“I would like peo ple to know that we are very hard workers,” said

and county of San Fran cisco. On September 15, a ceremonial Grito or shout representing Mexican in dependence rang in the month, and on October 14, a gala event will celebrate the cultural richness of the Bay Area by bringing to gether non-profit partners, organized labor, public officials and small busi nesses.

– Anna Gavidia World Languages Department Chair

can nations, which occur during these two months.

This month is a time to recognize the rich Latino history that exists in the United States, and to honor the contributions that the Hispanic commu nity has made.

World Languag

Gavidia. “And we in gener al are here to make a better life, not to take a better life from someone else.”

San Francisco’s Latino Heritage Committee will once again have the honor of coordinating Lati no Heritage Month events in conjunction with the city

“My parents help keep tradi tions alive in our house hold by food, music and celebrating holidays to gether,” said senior Isabella Alvaro. “I love the commu nity and energy.”

Supporting His panic-owned businesses is a common way people in the United States support the community this month.

Thalia Leon and Fernando Ramirez run Evolved SF, a popular des tination for inventive cloth ing on 24th Street in San Francisco. Both their store and website express their love of multimedia art and

their desire to spread it to their community.

Another local business is El Buen Comer, famous for its Mexico City homestyle dishes. Owner Isabel Caudillo is a gradu ate of a city program that supports low-income and immigrant restaurant entre preneurs. Supporting small businesses goes back to the theme of “Unidos,” uniting the community through in clusion and love.

“There’s no such thing as an offseason” in college admissions

From COLLEGE | Page 1

early action schools, which are November 1 and 15th.”

As the school year progresses and college ap plication season becomes more hectic, Cunha pre pares presentations for seniors designed to help them navigate the websites they will be using for ap plications as well as how to structure the all-import ant “personal statement.”

She visit ed English classes to talk about how to write college essays and will visit spiritual life class es to discuss Naviance, a comprehensive database for college statistics, as well as the Common App and University of Califor nia application portals.

One of these pre sentations is the Senior/ Parent College Night, which takes place ev

ery year in September, in which Cunha meets with the Class of 2023 and their parents to discuss import ant deadlines and focuses for the next few months.

The bulk of the application workload start ed at the beginning of Au gust when the application portals for the Common App and the University of

it slows down probably a week or two as you get into finals.”

California opened, and it picks up quickly as the first few weeks of school fly by.

“So from now un til probably mid-Novem ber, when we try to get past those early action dates, that picks up big time for you guys,” said Cunha. “It’s constant all the way to mid-November and then

But, around midNovember, once the bulk of senior applications is out of the way, the focus of college planning starts to shift from the seniors to the juniors. Cunha meets with every junior and their parents in the spring se mester to start the college list process, and these meetings take about four months to get through. Once those meet ings are com pleted, the focus shifts to AP Exams and score sub missions, following with summer school. As soon as one school year ends, a new college application season begins for the rising class of seniors.

“There’s no such thing as an offseason,” Cunha said. “I’m updating UC GPAs and coordinat

ing the PSATs … and also turning my attention to the APs because we have to register a year in advance. So there’s a lot of little sort of logistical pieces on the back end that I think people don’t realize that I do as, as someone that’s here, but a lot of us it’s really updating data.”

College applica tion season is a whirlwind of essays, test scores and letters of recommendation, but it is crucial that seniors stay on top of their work load, as it is greatly benefi cial for themselves, as well as those around them who are there to support and guide them towards suc cess.

Suicide Prevention Month: NDB increases mental health resources

by Kate Davidson News Co-Editor

September is Na tional Suicide Prevention Month, a time to recognize a highly stigmatized public health issue. This Septem ber, NDB has focused on making resources accessi ble to all students.

This fall, the counseling center creat ed a Schoology page with counseling materials and resources. The first items in the course are crisis re sources for times of emer gency. Located here are crisis hotlines and oppor tunities to get help in the

event of an emergency that are readily available. Also included are links to sim ply and efficiently make appointments with the stu dent’s assigned counsel or. Presentations given by counselors and newslet ters for counseling center updates can also be found on the Schoology page. At the bottom, the counselors have included information and resources for mental health and academic re sources, teaching students how to form healthy and attainable goals.

“It’s another re source that we wanted to make sure our students had

access to,” said Guidance Counselor Christina Chris tenson. “We were noticing that obviously the counsel ing center is open to every body, but sometimes … it can be hard to get specific information. We thought this would be another plat form that we could use to share more information.”

This month, NDB students are reminded that now and always there are people there to support those struggling with their mental health. Help is al ways available on the NDB campus.

“And we in general are here to make a better life, not to take a better life from someone else.”

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST

The mural “Naya Bihana” by Martin Traver is on display in the Mission district, a predominantly Latinx neighborhood in San Francisco.

“[The work] is constant all the way to mid-November and then it slows down probably a week or two as you get into finals.

– Dr. Dina Cunha Director of College Counseling

MEGAN WORRY / THE CATALYST

The counseling center is lined with college pennants, representing the options seniors have for future schools.

Early start times at local schools worsen traffic around NDB

by Dayna Sockol Staff Writer

In 2019, California lawmakers approved a rule mandating that public schools can start no earlier than 8 a.m. for middle schools and 8:30 a.m. for high schools, in attempts to help teenagers get more sleep. On July 1, 2022, the law became formally effective for the 2022-2023 school year.

For a teen, waking up early in the morning and trying to retain information can be a challenge. Studies have shown that teenagers find retaining information early in the morning more difficult than adults do.

Along with teenagers having a hard time wak ing up in the morning and being academically ready, sleep deprivation can also cause sleepy drivers. This can cause a danger for the student driving, as well as with everyone else on the road.

“I am really glad that NDB does not start before 8:30,” said senior Gianna Balestrino. “When I was in middle school, I had to leave at 7:30 a.m. to get there

by 8 a.m. Now that my high school starts at 8:30 in the morning, I can sleep in later, avoid rushing in the morning and feel more awake all day.”

Although the later start times can have a lot of positive effects on students and their health, there are also some downsides, namely traffic.

In Belmont, multiple local high schools and mid dle schools all start around the same time, increasing traffic on main roads like Ralston Avenue. NDB has maintained its 8:30 a.m start time for many years, while Carlmont HS recently changed its start time from around 9 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. With Ralston, Fox, Tierra Linda, Charles Armstrong and IHM elementary and middle schools, which all start between 8 and 8:30 a.m., there are many cars on the road causing traffic delays for students trying to get to school.

“Depending on the day, it can vary from any where from five to 15 or more students being late,” said Student Services Coordinator Barbara Tauskey. “As an ex ample, the day after Labor Day, there were 23 students that were late. Students need to be leaving home earlier. It is always best to leave your home earlier than you normally do knowing that the traffic on Ralston is a parking lot.”

While a lot of students who live within a few miles of the school have found backroads and do not get stuck often, the main traffic can negatively affect students

who live further away.

“With all the traffic, it takes me about 25 minutes to get to school from where I live, Emerald Hills,” said NDB senior Cristine Niswander. “Last year, when schools close to NDB began at various times, I didn’t need to leave my house very early. The traffic has significantly risen since the schools all begin at the same time, and I now have to leave much earlier than I would want. When I leave my house too late, the traffic is highly irritating and incredibly inconvenient.”

For new student drivers, these major delays are an added responsibility and call for time management.

“I live in San Bruno and my middle school was a block away,” said junior Amber Holloway. “Now that I am a junior and can drive, I have a lot more responsibilities. I have to leave really early to avoid all the traffic and I am always super tired on the road to school.”

While students appreciate later start times, they are frustrated with the traffic-related consequences that come with them.

Overturning of Roe v. Wade sparks community reflection

From ROE | Page 1

drastic in scope grant ed rights to minori ties … Dobbs takes away a right that wom en have had for years.”

Many liberal states sought opposite but equal measures after the ruling. Illinois, a state that is geographically surround ed by abortion-restricted states, has recently been designated as a “sanctuary state” – implementing a series of laws protecting abortion seekers and medi cal providers. In California, protections for abortion access will be on the ballot for the upcoming Novem ber election. Proposition 1 seeks to protect abor tion access by adding the right to an abortion in the state’s constitution, mak ing the passing of trigger laws such as the ones seen in Texas and Missouri sig nificantly more difficult, as the constitution would have to be amended by the peo ple of California to do so.

Even prior to the ruling, California took a strong stance on abortion.

“We’ve seen laws that prohibit the prosecu tion of women who trav el to California to get an abortion or the people that perform abortions … [the

California Legislature] has also made it really, really easy for low income [wom en] and women below the poverty line to access re productive care by prohibit ing co-pays,” said Spenner.

On the NDB campus, students have reacted to the ruling in a myr iad of ways.

“I had discussions about it with my family and friends and I went to a protest,” said sophomore Gabby Lonardo. “I think it’s because it affects us the most because we’re young girls. Notre Dame gave us a place to talk about it.”

Teachers have also chimed in, capi talizing on the educa tional value of the case.

“I see no differ ence between the Dobbs decision, Roe v. Wade, [or]

students have had to the ruling. “There’s definitely … a tangible feeling here. And I can tell you my stu dents have spoken up with questions and strong emo tions about the decision.”

about ensuring our chil dren are equipped with the information they need to make healthy decisions, we need to care about lo cal elections and pay at tention to our candidates’ commitment to reproduc tive health care access,” said San Mateo City Councilwoman Amourence Lee.

Across political standpoints, community leaders in Belmont are ob serving an increase in po litical interest within their respective communities.

“A lot of peo ple are motivated, a lot of people are energized by this,” commented Bel mont Mayor Julia Mates.

“A lot of people are pay ing attention, because it is directly affecting them.”

Mates has also observed the ruling im pacting college decisions for high school students.

As the abortion laws of a campus’s location are now being taken into con sideration for many, stu dents are invited to the conversation of the ruling.

Plessy v. Ferguson,” said Karen Fry, AP U.S. Gov ernment and Politics teach er. “It should be able to be discussed. All of them.”

Fry also points out the strong reaction NDB

Local elected of ficials have joined in tak ing action on the matter.

“If we care about keeping access to abortion legal, about protecting re productive health care and

Lee leads the “Pro Choice SMC” campaign, which pressures can didates for San Mateo County elected positions to publicly release their stances on Proposition 1 and abortion access.

Emotions were high this summer in re sponse to the Dobbs ruling. Both tears of joy and shouts of anger erupted from every corner of the nation. Feel ings immediately trickled into local spheres and have undoubtedly impacted the NDB community. While the ultimate fate of legal abortion remains largely ambiguous, students have undoubtedly taken a col lective stance as the newest generation of civically-en gaged leaders and learners.

“A lot of the rulings that would be seen as this drastic in scope, granted rights to minorities… Dobbs takes away a right that women have had for years.”

– Elise Spenner Editor in Chief of High School SCOTUS

LAUREN FITZGERALD / THE CATALYST

Protesters gather in San Mateo’s Central Park in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Letter from the Editor in Chief

Ava Marinos Opinion Co-Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

by Molly Phan Editor in Chief

I joined the NDB Journalism class my junior year because I loved to write and wanted to explore a style of writing that was different from the typical essays we write in English class. However, I quickly came to appreciate the role of the student newspaper in our community and could not be more excited to serve as Editor in Chief of The Catalyst this year.

Through the dozens of articles that I have written for The Catalyst so far, I have learned so much about the history and mission of NDB. I love to be social and engage with the people around me, so I have enjoyed being able to interact with students, teachers, staff members and admin istrators when reporting on school events.

Last year as Opinion Editor, I was given the op portunity to write about issues in our community that I felt passionate about. My first articles covered smaller school issues such as uniform policies and sister class bonding, but as the year went on, I began to explore larger world issues through editorials regarding student mental health and masking during the pandemic. I am incredibly thank ful for the platform that The Catalyst has given me to use my voice and advocate for the rest of the student body.

My experience on The Catalyst editorial staff last year has taught me to appreciate all of the time and effort that goes into producing the newspaper as well as the im portance of teamwork. I have been able to work collabora tively with editors, staff writers and members of the Jour nalism Club, but have learned the most from our former Editor in Chief Peyton Daley and Managing Editor Clair Sapilewski. I am thankful for all that they have taught me about leadership and feel well-prepared to manage The Catalyst this year.

I am fortunate to have such a hard-working staff by my side. Our print, online and social media platforms would not be possible without each editor, writer and pho tographer. I am especially looking forward to having Mia Muzzi as Managing Editor; I know that her creativity and determination will be essential to produce our print issues this year. I would like to also acknowledge our advisor, Mr. Rojas, for prioritizing the student voice, allowing us to have such a presence in the NDB community.

Finally, I would like to thank our readers, as our work would not be possible without your support. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Editor in Chief this year, and I promise to dedicate all of the time and energy that the role will take.

Dear Sharks, Watching your cheerful energy and spirit radiate through the halls inspires me to not give into my senioritis. It is crazy how the years have flown by, and I cannot help but reminisce about my fresh man year. The first year of high school is like a tri al run. You start to figure out your group of friends, decide what clubs and ex tracurriculars you want to join, and what leadership opportunities you are inter ested in. My freshman year, I tried to do it all. Student council, Varsity Pom, TriSchool Musical … Do not let the amount of extracur riculars offered overwhelm you, but let them give you plenty of opportunities to find what makes you come alive.

Trust me, you do not need to have it all fig ured out. My best advice for you is to be spontaneous

and try as much as possible, without overworking your self. Figure out what piques your interest. High school is a place for self-discov ery. Go to that volleyball game, sit at that table with

vise never to be afraid to reach out for help. Wheth er it be from teachers or upperclassmen, self-advo cacy is key. Your teachers are there to support you at the beginning of your high school career. Never be afraid to raise your hand or sit in the front.

You may not be as familiar with your class mates right now, but you never know if the Shark sit ting across from you will be your lifelong friend. Sim

of their way to make them feel comfortable.

If you do not have any middle school friends coming into your freshman year at NDB like I did as an incoming freshman, let this be an exciting opportunity for you to find a new group of friends who make you happy. You are destined to meet at least one oth er student who you share common interests with. Also, just because you are a freshman does not mean that you cannot befriend students from other grade levels. I still keep in touch with the senior I met as a freshman.

people you do not know, run for student council–you never know what will happen when you seize the opportunity.

I also want to ad

ply greet them or request to be their partner. They are just as unfamiliar as you are right now, but they might really appreciate a fellow classmate going out

After reading these tips, I hope that you can go into your next day of school with a newfound sense of confidence. I am wishing you all of the best at NDB, and for you to fully embrace the beauty of the sisterhood fostered here. No matter what grade level, we all started off as freshmen. Turn this ner vousness into excitement because freshman year is the year where it all be gan! Whether a Wildcat or a Shark, we are all in this together as Tigers.

Streaming services have forever changed how viewers consume their media

Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

the most popular titles, offer discounts, and even produce original content in order to do this, and us viewers reap the benefits.

You or your fami ly probably are, like many, subscribed to at least one online streaming service, where you can binge your favorite shows and mov ies endlessly. This form of viewing has been around for over 30 years, but only recently has really boomed, with more and more media companies launching plat forms of their own. While this new influx of services has a lot of benefits, the nature of having so many platforms available causes some frustrating problems.

Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, Apple TV are just a few of the over 200 streaming services avail able in 2022. The dominat ing industry has grown in credibly in recent years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to Grand View Research, it is expected to be worth over $330 billion by 2030.

Streaming ser vices make it so much eas ier to rewatch our favorite

shows from start to finish, find a perfect movie for family night, or discov er a new series developed by the platform itself. The convenience of streaming has never been better, and a big part of the reason for

Overall, having so many options for streaming service is a positive thing. In fact, 72% of Americans say they enjoy their stream ing service experience ac cording to a study by Niel son. However, there are many bothersome elements of having such a large selec tion of streaming services. Firstly, with each platform

ibly annoying that rather than having everything in one place, the content is di vided across multiple sites. For many who choose to commit to more than one platform, it can become overwhelming and tiring to manage.

this is the competition of the industry itself. Those 200 streaming services available all want a large number of subscribers and excellent reviews for their company growth, and have to find a way to stand out from the competition to do that. Many work to stream

offering different content, we must subscribe to mul tiple different programs in order to watch our desired TV shows or movies. On average, U.S streaming ser vice users have 4 different subscriptions according to a Deloitte Digital Media Trends Study. It is incred

Not to mention how costly belonging to multiple streaming sites can become. If one was subscribed to the most ba sic ad-free option of Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max, in total, they would be spending around $46 per month. These ser vices usually hold their titles pretty exclusively, meaning that you either subscribe to that specific service, or you do not get to watch that movie or TV show. They know how the desire to watch a certain show eats away at you un til eventually you give in and purchase a subscription plan. This trade off gets even more frustrating when a particular platform drops a title and another one picks it up, forcing you to reeval uate your subscriptions.

While we can all feel grateful for the con venience and variety that streaming services offer us, there are times when it is reasonable to miss the sim plicity of cable.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DMED Streaming services, such as Disney+, have dominated the TV industry.

From a Wildcat to a Shark: These are the things that I wish I knew as a freshman

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

MEGAN WORRY/ THE CATALYST Gabby Wylie-Chaney, ‘23 and Lilly Lauritzen, ‘26 share experiences with one another.

Feminine hygiene products should be free in all public and private school restrooms, including here at NDB

by Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor

The Menstrual Equity for All Act, signed on October 8, 2021, re quires all California public schools to supply free men strual products starting in the 2022-2023 school year. This new legislation greatly improves the level of equi ty and convenience for girls at public schools. As an allgirls school, NDB should implement the same level of access.

NDB students have limited options when it comes to accessing men strual products on campus. The main resource provid ed is a large dispenser lo cated in both the upstairs and downstairs restrooms, which holds tampons and “napkins.” To purchase ei ther of these items, students must pay 25 cents. While this is a low price, it is a price that should not have to be paid at all. Menstru al products are undeniable necessities and payment should not be required in order to get them.

The dispensers are simply not serving their purpose as an acces sible source of menstrual

products for NDB stu dents. For many students, 25 cents can be a difficult price, due to either a simple lack of on-hand quarters or larger financial hardships. Rather than paying the 25 cents, most students resort to asking their friends for the products they need. If students are getting the necessary materials from their friends rather than the restroom, why is the dis penser even there? Students clearly do not want to or are unable to purchase the peri od products supplied by the dispenser. So, what good is it doing?

Luckily, we do have one free option on campus, which is Stu dent Services Coordinator Barbara Tauskey’s office. Tauskey thoughtfully pro vides all of the necessary supplies for students with a kind smile and comfort ing impression. However, many students, especial ly underclassmen, are not aware that they can go to her for this need. Further more, some students may not feel comfortable ad dressing their period with a staff member, and it is understandable if they want to maintain a certain level

of privacy. Providing these products for free in the re strooms is the best way to ensure personal privacy and easy accessibility in emergency situations.

When a student suddenly realizes that they have started their period, they are filled with a certain level of panic and anxiety and they frantically rush to take care of it. They do not need to add to this panic by realizing that they are not prepared with the neces sary materials and cannot get any conveniently, all because they do not have a quarter. This anxiety is fixable. Replacing the dis pensers that are currently in the restrooms with a free option is an easy way to help the girls at NDB feel calm, composed and pre pared when they get their period.

As an all-girls school, NDB has the op portunity to cater to the unique needs of a female student body. Through curriculum, uniforms, and campus activities, NDB considers femininity and the experiences that come with it. Menstruation is an issue that should not be treated any differently, as it

is a specific case in which the privileges of attending an all-girls school can be highlighted.

There is no pre venting the distracting

monthly burden that is menstruation, but the school can make it easier to handle through free, acces sible menstrual products.

Viewpoint: College Board’s pledge to make the SAT more accessible is too late and unfair to past test-takers

by Ava Marinos Opinion Co-Editor

Earlier this year, College Board announced that the SAT will undergo several changes that will take effect in the U.S. in 2024. In a press release, Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of College Read iness Assessments at Col lege Board states, “the digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give and more relevant.”

A student’s desire to achieve perfection and earn the highest possible SAT score persists. But with College Board’s re cent SAT change, has that bar been lowered? Even with certain colleges adver tising their “test-optional” or “test-blind” policies, this test still highlights a stu dent’s readiness for college. Nevertheless, the value of test-taking has changed for the worse. Students used to be forced to take the SAT in its regular three-hour format. But now, future students will experience the luxury of an easier, digital, two-hour long counterpart.

Where has this leeway been for the past generations of SAT test-takers? While I chose to not take the SAT due to applying to test-blind

schools within California, I vaguely remember signing up to take one in San Fran cisco. Just a week before I was due to take it, the test ing center closed.

Making the test easier both in content and in accessibility feels con siderably unfair to all those who stressed over those hard reading passages or

out to Turlock, California. It was the closest I could find a seat, even though it was still a 3 hour drive be cause of Bay Area traffic,” shared senior Ella Ebert. It was a more expensive ex perience than it would’ve been if I had taken the test locally. I had to pay for dinner the evening be fore, a hotel room so that

students who need them, and allow a comfortable, familiar testing environ ment for all students.”

I agree that digi talizing the SAT would be far more convenient for students, but I also feel that because of years of com plications, this new digital format should have always been administered. A stu

called disadvantage of past students.” says English Department Chair Robert Rojas. “Things change in reaction to certain events and decisions. Making the SAT digital will only help provide access to all.”

While this is a valid argument, the college that a student attends is a crucial part of their life. The SAT is a mandatory part of admissions into selective colleges such as George town University. The SAT being so difficult for all of the past years could have been the difference be tween one’s rejection or acceptance to their desired college. I understand that as time progresses, im provements are made, but I still feel frustrated for those who relied on the SAT as a significant part of their ap plication before its digital format.

ABOUT THE CATALYST

The Catalyst is a stu dent-run newspaper that is published seven times a year in print and 24/7 online at www.TheNDB Catalyst.com for the Notre Dame High School com munity.

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The Catalyst accepts unso licited letters from students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as press releases from on and off-campus organi zations, but cannot guaran tee publication.

It reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The views expressed in the Opinion section do not reflect the views of The Catalyst, NDB, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, or the Archdiocese of San Francisco, but are solely the views of the writer. Un signed editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst.

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desperately tried to find a location to take the test.

Proximity to test ing centers is another no table issue. As test centers fill up quickly, it is difficult to find a test center avail able close by. NDB seniors have definitely experienced these hardships.

“I made the trek

I could maximize my rest the night before, and break fast before the test. This is ignoring the financial and environmental cost of gas,” Ebert continued. “The SAT going digital would save so many families the cost of travel for a relatively short event, make accommoda tions easier to access for

dent’s SAT score when taking the digitalized test could be way higher than someone who had to deal with the complications of taking its previous format, which could greatly affect the trends of college admis sions.

“Every year, things get better at the so-

I believe that Col lege Board should have made the call to digitalize the SAT earlier. What about taking those who had suf fered with the original SAT into consideration? With digitalizing the SAT, future generations of students will not be able to understand the struggles that past gen erations endured for the sake of a test score.

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ARTS

PHOTO

STAFF

FACULTY Robert Rojas

GENEVIEVE KLEIN / THE CATALYST

Feminine products cost 25 cents in NDB restrooms.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS

College Board has made the SAT “easier” and will be available in 2024.

Wildcats get their head in the game for senior year

by Molly Phan Editor in Chief

As these last three years were significantly im pacted by the pandemic, the Class of 2023 has endured quite the high school jour ney so far. Completing part of their freshman year and all of their sophomore year behind Zoom screens and masks blurred their transi tion from underclassmen to upperclassmen and de prived them of traditional high school experiences.

However, the Class of 2023 returns to campus this year as seniors, and hopes to make the best of the events and privileges that come with the title.

During the first month of the school year, the Wildcats have already had several opportunities to come together and kick off their senior year. On Monday, August 15, they gathered in the Father Downey Garden for the Senior Sunrise before the first day of school. Later in the week on August 19, the Wildcats won the first ral ly because of their intense spirit and competitiveness.

Finally, the Senior Splash was held on Friday, August 26, where students had the chance to swim, eat shaved

EDITORIAL STAFF / THE CATALYST

Wildcats participate in bonding events to kick off their senior year.

ice and take their class pho to.

All class events that will take place this year are planned and executed by the senior class council. They work to ensure that the class has opportunities to bond and is properly rep resented among the rest of the student body.

“To plan class ac

tivities, we talk about ideas within student council, and then ask other students their opinion on those ideas be

A day in the life of an NDB Tiger Big/Little Sister Day

The freshmen and the juniors paired together as sister classes for the first time on August 26. Each freshman was given a big sister from the junior class to guide them through their beginning years at NDB. Freshman class coordinator and junior class co-coordinator, Jonathan Tomczack, paired each sister together based on their interests and hobbies. Held during collaboration, the sisters introduced themselves and spent the rest of the after noon getting to know each other.

Monarchs’ Tie-Dye

The Monarchs got together during collaboration on August 26 to tie-dye their class t-shirts. The sophomore student council was in charge of the event, and planned out a fun-filled afternoon for their classmates. There were multiple buckets filled with purple dye for the Monarchs to dip their t–shirts in, giving them a spirited purple design. After the activity, they min gled amongst each other with ice cream sandwiches as a treat.

Dragons’ Rally Prep

The Dragons came back to school as upperclassmen, ready to jump back into their school spirit. In preparation for the Back to School rally, juniors decked out in green face paint, glitter and tutus. They supported their new sister class, the Sharks, by wearing blue as well. Amidst the sea of colors, the Dragons stayed loud and enthusiastic, bringing recognition to their class’ close friendships among one another.

fore getting them approved by our class coordinator and [Director of Student Life and Leadership] Mrs.

Bergholm,” said Senior Class President Monique Samson.

The senior class coordinator, Kate Ma honey, also plays an im portant role in the experi ence of the senior class.

“My overall goal for the senior class this year is to give them their best year yet at NDB,”

Mahoney said. “With the guidance of the senior class council, we hope to provide bonding activities that will create lifelong memories for the senior class.”

Although there is a lot in store this year for the Wildcats to look forward to, the next few months will certainly be some of the most challenging. For the majority of the fall semes ter, seniors will be working on college applications, which can be stressful and time consuming. Soon af ter, they will have to open college decision letters and eventually decide where to spend the next chapter of their lives, and, with that, comes a great deal of pres sure. However, the end-ofthe-year events, such as Aquacades and graduation will surely be worth the stress and anxiety.

Senior year is not only important in prepar ing students for the next period of their lives, but is also a time where the class can truly come together and bond before parting ways in June. Together, the Class of 2023 has the ability to make their senior year memorable despite the unprecedented challeng es they have faced during their time at NDB.

Sharks join the sisterhood

From THE SHARKS| Page 1

had filled out their inter ests in a Google form, and Freshman Class Coordi nator Jonathan Tomczak paired together students who had similar responses. During the event, Sharks and the Dragons gathered in the Father Downey Gar den to get to know one an other over ice cream treats.

In the evening of August 26, Serra HS host ed their annual Tri-School event, the Frosh Splash. They host the pool party to give Mercy HS, Serra HS and NDB students a chance to meet one another in a non-academic setting.

“It was a little awkward at first but then once I started getting to know people, it was a lot

more fun,” said Loar.

To further unite the Tri-School freshmen, NDB hosted the first TriSchool dance. The dance was carnival-themed with candy, snacks and decora tions. ASB and Link Crew Board attended the dance and helped introduce the freshmen to one another.

“I had a really good time meeting every one,” freshman Nora Ghat tas shared. “The music was also really good and so were the snacks. It was ac tually really fun.”

The Sharks held their class council elections on September 16. There, they listened to their class mates’ speeches and vot ed for students who they thought reflected NDB’s school spirit and leader

ship.

The newly elect ed freshman class council, including President Nelly Hickson, Vice President Emma Downing, Secre tary-Treasurer Brooke True, Activities Director Alex Davidow, Athletics Director Lizzie Johnson, Spirit Director Tali Cuneo and Historian Kate Mc Clenahan look forward to leading their class this year.

“I’m looking for ward to growing closer friendships, being a part of lots of new clubs and all the sports seasons,” said Cu neo.

With a year full of many firsts, the freshmen anticipate the events that NDB has planned for the approaching months.

MOLLY PHAN / THE CATALYST

Freshmen socialized at the Tri-School dance on September

“My overall goal for the senior class this year is to give them their best year yet at NDB.”

- Kate Mahoney Senior Class Coordinator

Information and photos compiled by Mia Muzzi,

Essalat: From NDB student to NDB head of school

From ESSALAT| Page 1

Ceremony. She also re members the excitement surrounding Aquacades and her commitment to building her class’s “Jaws” themed float for the kick off rally during her junior year.

After graduating from NDB in 1998, Essalat attended Menlo College where she studied mass communications with an emphasis in print journal ism. She had always envi sioned herself moving to New York City and writing for Vogue magazine, but at Menlo, she quickly became involved in student life and leadership. She developed an interest in event coordi nation and fundraising sur rounding academics, which led her to her teaching cre dential that she earned in 20 04.

“I taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade language arts for about a decade, but it was seventh grade that was my favor ite,” said Essalat.

After several years of teaching, Essalat moved to Dallas, Texas with her husband for a business op portunity. Because her Cal ifornia teaching credential did not transfer to Texas, she channeled her passions

for teaching and her love for writing into her book, “The Overly Honest Teach er.” In the book, she gives parenting advice from the teacher’s perspective be cause she values having a connection with not only her students, but their fami lies as well.

“In doing re search, I realized that there really was not a book out there that was written from the educator’s voice, and specifically around how we can bridge the gap of com munication that so often does exist between parents and teachers,” shared Es salat.

COURTESY OF THE TORCH YEARBOOK

Then: 1998

Now that she has been working on campus with students and staffulty members for nearly three months, she has been able to feel the warmth and en couragement of the NDB community. Her favorite moments so far have been her opportunities to build relationships with the new people she meets.

“I love getting to impact things from 10,000 feet, but then also at the same time getting to pop into a classroom and watch a teacher teaching. I’m lov ing supervision at lunch, and just getting to be out side and interacting with

students as they’re eating,” she said. “I want to be with people, colleagues, parents and students. I love that,” she continued.

During her tenure as head of school, Essalat hopes to maintain the tradi tions that make the school so special. Aquacades, the Junior Ring Ceremony and the DEI speaker series, for example, are all set to con tinue.

But above all, she emphasizes the importance of fun within the school en vironment.

“I think coming out of COVID and coming

out of remote learning and isolation, it’s so important to get back to having fun at school. You know, learning at its essence, at its core has got to be engaging and to be engaging, it’s got to have a resonance of fun to it,” said Essalat.

She also holds a genuine appreciation for the all-girls student popu lation that exists at NDB, which she feels is what makes the environment so unique.

“There’s just something about being in the presence of other fe males, like-minded indi

viduals’ opinions that are going to challenge you without fear of reproach, that you can really enter into conversations and di alogues and relationships and friendships, knowing that you’re kind of just ac cepted for who you are,” she said. “Here, everybody is motivated, right, and so driven to succeed, but there’s just a warmth that comes from Notre Dame and I do believe that to be just from the collection of like minded humans that are here.”

As Essalat makes the transition into her posi

tion as head of school, she reflects on what truly drew her back to NDB, and it came down to the kind of people that exist within the community.

“To be a No tre Dame Tiger, I think it means to be tenacious. I think it means to be em pathetic. I think it means to be ingenuitive. I think it means to be courageous. I think that a Notre Dame Tiger is someone who is always evolving in the best possible way, wanting to make an impact in the world,” she shared.

Meet new Associate Head of School Arlene Empleo

The Catalyst (TC): What do you remember from your high school experience?

Arlene Empleo (AE): The rallies. I don’t remember what happened in the classroom, but the rallies and all the ex tracurriculars I re member because I was so involved. Those were the

years, we’re still all involved in our reunions.

TC: How do you want to use your experiences to benefit the commu nity?

AE: It’s the extracurriculars. It real ly is. I’m really trying to encourage our students as well as our staff to go to the games, to go to the TriSchool plays and events. Because we need to show support, not just within the classroom but outside of the classroom. That just shows our community we’re here, we’re back in business and we’re more than just a student inside the classroom. That’s what makes us who we are.

TC: What were some notable jobs you’ve had pre vious to being at NDB?

work in Long Beach, I was campus security. During the day I did my classes, at night I worked campus security. It was totally fun to drive the golf carts and walk around with flashlights.

TC: What do you like to do outside of school?

Now: 2022 Editor Mia Muzzi

AE: Honestly, outside school, it’s all about my boys. Whether it’s soccer and I coach their basketball and volleyball teams. My other two boys play baseball, so I’m al ways driving around doing that with them. Every once in a while, maybe I’ll get to dance in my kitchen with my husband. I love salsa music. But that’s about it. It’s all about my boys right now.

TC: What made you decide to come to NDB?

we don’t understand the rules and people start breaking rules, then it’s not fun. For me, I don’t feel like I’m coming to work every day with this job. If I don’t feel like I’m having fun or playing, it’s not good any more. That’s why I want students to feel happy and safe and ready to learn.

TC: How will you be enforcing the rules and or giving consequences?

AE: I just really have been having conversations and I haven’t had to call any parents yet about it. But it’s just a conversation, you know? I feel like if there’s ever an issue that has to be discussed, I want to match the consequence with it. So, that’s why it makes sense to me. I’m just trying to make everything match the behavior, so we can change that behavior.

TC: Are you worried that students may view you as the “bad guy”?

best times, like our football games and my senior year prank. Our classes were our classes but our extra curricular activities. That was what made our class, our class and that’s what keeps us together. I came from a small Catholic school but we’re all still friends. After 20 plus

AE: Previously, I worked as a paraprofes sional for a family [whose] daughter attended the Bridge School at North Elementary in Hillsborough. I was at North for a year and brought my son with me. Then we left and came back. Then, I became a teacher. Some other jobs I had when I was going to school were interesting. I worked in the ER for Alta Bates [Summit Medi cal Center] in Berkeley. That was my night job so I worked answer ing phones for them. I also used to

AE: Honestly, it was totally a leap of faith. I prayed on it. Like, I didn’t even know this existed. I just was asked and I was like, ‘I’m here to serve you.’ I always wanted the ex perience to be in a single-gender school. So this was a great opportu nity for me to be here. I just felt like I was called to be here.

TC: What are your goals for this year as far as discipline? Goals in general?

AE: For me, it’s just the consisten cy and just having the regularity of certain rules that we have to follow. And just helping the students under stand it’s for safety. But it’s when

AE: Of course. That’s part of the job. Like, I get that. I’m totally fine with that. I think that’s your initial reaction. But once you get to know me and understand me, I think it’s totally fine.

TC: What impact do you hope to leave on the community?

AE: I just feel like, obviously, I want people to love being here. I just want people to feel welcome and want to be here. And be proud to be a Tiger. I’m just saying, ‘We’re number one!’ to get to know her background and understand her on-campus role.

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

Throwback TV shows

by Genevieve Klein Opinion Co-Editor

Searching for a show to binge right now? Look back to the past and rewatch some of the best series from the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Even better, find a throwback show that matches your seasonal mood. Read below to see the best show for each season of the year.

Morgan Wallen brings his “Dangerous” Tour to Shoreline Amphitheater

by Ashley Turner Staff Writer

Featuring bold characters with glamorous lifestyles, New York City excitement and a mysterious, anonymous gossip report er, this show holds many dramatic twists and iconic moments. Viewers watch the complex relationships between the characters evolve throughout the series and can see numerous family cen tered moments during Christmas time. New York City snow and holiday glamour make it a great show to watch during the winter.

Morgan Wallen’s “Dangerous” Tour has been long awaited since his last one prior to COVID-19. The country singer began touring in February and will hit 46 cities by the end of September. Wallen per formed five nights in Cal ifornia, specifically at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View on Septem ber 16. The lineup included openings by fellow country artists: HARDY and Ian Munsick. Tickets reached as much as $400 for a lawn ticket, and for higher-end seating, rose to $1,400 each. The concert had been expecting a busy turnout.

Shoreline Amphi theater, an outdoor location with a grass field for gen eral admission, hosted his concert. The flexibility of the general admission seat ing welcomes guests who prefer to set down a blanket and watch, as well as those who prefer to stand and dance. Due to the large au dience, space was limited and those who arrived later were not guaranteed a spot to sit.

phitheater. Along the wall at the end of the lawn lies the only bar and sole source of refreshments besides those previously men tioned. The bar carries one brand of water as well as a limited variety of non-alco holic beverages.

Many students have memories of watching this show growing up. The comedic scenes, unforgettable moments and mystical elements of the show are what create such a fondness towards it. The Australian show is about three teenage girls who become mermaids and gain magical powers. The girls rely on their close friendships to help navigate keeping their secret and adjusting to a new way of life. With the sunny weather and school life component of the series, it is a great choice for spring.

Refreshments were available near the main entrance of the am

Attendants of all ages wore an assortment of jeans, cowboy hats and flannels. While some dressed for comfort by wearing tennis shoes, oth ers went all out and chose to accessorize their denim with belt buckles and cow boy boots. The audience surely dressed the part and looked to blend in with the Southern style.

As HARDY’S “Broadway Girls” began to play, the crowd grew excit ed with anticipation of Wal len’s entrance. He stepped onstage to the song “Sand In My Boots,’’ the 2nd most popular record of his “Dan gerous” Album. The slow song brought the crowd to sway along to the beat alongside their friends. The following song, “Some thin’ Country,” brought the crowd out of the somber atmosphere with its upbeat lyrics.

Halfway through the set, Munsick was brought onstage to join Wallen in singing “Flower Shops.” Munsick joined in

on the chorus; their harmo nies bringing the viewers to listen in awe. The amphi theater was lit up with the flashlights of thousands of phones. Friends and family held each other close while they sang along. HARDY was welcomed back on stage for his song featuring Wallen, “He Went To Jar ed.” The two brought ev eryone to their feet as they ran along the stage while singing. Attendants could be seen dancing along. The night was full of good music and happy fans, making it memorable for all.

How to prepare for your first concert

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

Set in sunny Newport Beach in Orange County, California. “The OC” follows a close-knit group of friends who live privileged lives, but struggle with family troubles and personal drama. It has all the elements of a nostalgic throwback, from the Y2k fashion to the iconic theme song “California,” and its numerous beach scenes make it a perfect show for summer. If that is not enough, watch it just for everyone’s favorite couple on the show, Summer (Rachel Bilson) and Seth (Adam Brody), who offer an adorable and hilarious romance.

The school year has started, so students are looking for activities to do over the weekend with friends. Luckily for the population of NDB, the Bay Area is a trendy spot for touring artists, mean ing there are no shortage of concerts throughout the year. However, with the excitement of these events, unfortunately, comes risks.

“My recommen dation would be to go with a group so then it’s safer,” said senior Abbi Edelhart. “Then also to make sure you know how you’re get ting home because many people only figure out how they’re going to get there, but not how to get back.”

This show absolutely screams fall. The series is set in the charm ing small town of Stars Hollow in Connecticut. The town has a warm, welcoming feel, filled with cute mom-and-pop stores, quirky traditions and lots of coffee. It is home to lovable char acters and the mother-daughter duo, Lorelei and Rory Gilmore, who are the focus of the show. “Gilmore Girls” definitely has its own distinct aesthetic, and certainly makes you want to put on a wool knit sweater and drink some apple cider.

Attending a con cert is all about getting swept away with the mu sic. Still, you do not want to lose sight of your sur roundings. Especially when you are with friends, it is important that you know where they are at all times, for everyone’s safety. Plan ahead with your group on what to do and where to meet if anyone gets lost or if there is an emergency. Even have a fallback for that strategy.

Try to eat some

thing before the concert because the prices of event food might be a lot more than one might be willing to pay. Drinking lots of wa ter in advance is important so you do not have to pur chase an overpriced one when you get there.

Something else to remember is to wear a com fortable outfit. Dressing up according to the weather is a component that many overlook. Comfortable clothes can enhance a con cert’s experience because you are fully focused on the concert, instead of your outfit.

Senior Amelia Ai lanjian has been to many concerts. Her favorites in clude Taylor Swift, Arianna Grande and Sabrina Car penter.

“Wear sneakers and scream your heart out, learn all the songs,” said Ailanjian. “Also bring a clear bag so you don’t get stopped at security.”

However, part of the fun of attending a con cert is in the clothes. Dress ing up on theme, whether you are seeing Lady Gaga, Luke Bryan or any other artist, is always an exciting component to attending a

concert.

If merchandise is of interest, it is best to pur chase at the very beginning of the show or after it ends. It is customary that in the parking lot after an event there will be people sell ing t-shirts or hoodies for a discounted price. Many purchase gear from these vendors instead to avoid the long lines and expen sive prices.

Most importantly, have fun, take advantage of any opportunity to go out and have a blast.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Winter - “Gossip Girl”

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETWORK TEN Spring - “H2O: Just Add Water”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX Summer - “The OC”

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Fall - “Gilmore Girls”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ

Thousands of fans attended Wallen’s concert at Shoreline Amphitheater.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST

Many fans went to see Lady Gaga perform at Oracle Park on September 8.

What to watch thoughout the year

NDB sculpture exhibit at SFO

by Mia Muzzi Managing Editor

After much antici pation, NDB sculpture stu dents’ projects are finally on display at the San Fran cisco International Airport (SFO). The project named, “The Luggage You Carry” is a hand- crafted piece of luggage made out of clay, containing items that the artist would take with them if they had to leave some where suddenly.

“The Luggage You Carry” project was created by Visual and Per forming Arts Department Chair and sculpture teach er, Martha Anne Kuntz. Her goal was for her sculpture students to design a suit case with items that repre sent something meaningful, reflecting the artists’ values and or interests.

Last fall, the proj ect was announced to be displayed in SFO and since then, eight of the students’ projects were chosen and photographed by Kuntz. The exhibit can be found in Harvey Milk Terminal 1. The photographed projects are lined up along the walls for travelers to view when walking around the termi nal. Each photograph is paired with a description of the project’s meaning along with the artist’s name.

Sophomore Adri anna Esguerra was among the eight students whose artwork was selected to be shown.

“When I heard that my piece was chosen to be displayed ..., I was ab solutely mind blown,” said Esguerra. “It made me so happy and I knew it would make my family really proud because I have been doing art and paintings since I was a little kid.”

Another NDB sophomore, Lauren Zerel la’s project was also select ed to be displayed at the exhibit.

“I used the color purple for most of my lug gage because purple is my favorite color and I feel that it represents me as a person,” Zerella said when describing her project.

“Some of the items I in cluded are four pineapples,

which represent the four members of my immediate family. I chose to use pine apples because we watched a television series in which pineapples feature in every episode.”

Both sculpture students Zerella and Es guerra visited the terminal with their family to see the projects displayed.

“After seeing it in person it really showed me how lucky I am to have such an amazing art teach er like Mrs. Kuntz. I knew that this is an experience that I probably won’t have again and being able to say that my artwork was dis played in the SFO airport is just an honor.”

“I was really im pressed to see my and all of my classmates’ pieces displayed in a professional manner,” Zerella noted.

“Ghostlight” production begins

by Kayla Hollister Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Au gust 30 and Wednesday, August 31, students from Serra HS, Mercy HS and NDB attended auditions for the 2022 fall Tri-School play “Ghostlight.”

This year’s play follows a high school stu dent named Garbiela Net tles, who begins suffering from nightmares as she at tends the prestigious prep school Doves Forge Acad emy.

The auditions were held in the Serra HS theater. All Tri-School stu dents prepared and mem orized either dramatic or comedic monologues to perform in front of the directors and other staff. They based their mono logues on their knowledge of the play and the charac ters they wished to be con sidered for.

To learn more about the characters and the plot, many students chose to read through the script of the play. This included sophomore Sianna Kiebler, who will be playing the lead role of Garbiela Net tles.

“I came up with what characters I thought I could be good at,” said Kiebler. “Then I found a

monologue that matched their energy.”

Callback audi tions occurred the follow ing Thursday, September 1.

“For callbacks, you get given scenes spe cific to whatever characters you’re called back for,” said senior Isabella Hildeb rand-Veccia. “They’ll mix and match to see chemistry and how different people work together on stage.”

The scenes for callbacks, called “sides” are taken from the script of the show to give the actors a chance to play the char acters they are auditioning for.

The cast list for “Ghostlight” was posted the weekend after audi tions, but the several day wait was long enough to be difficult for the actors.

“It’s definitely a time you’re sitting there by

your computer and hitting refresh on the page,” said Hildebrand-Veccia.

“I didn’t even care what part I got, I just really wanted to be in it,” reflect ed Kiebler.

Many of the stu dents who participate in the play participate in the spring musical as well. Hildebrand-Veccia, who is entering her final year of Tri-School Productions, found the audition process bittersweet.

The script readthrough for “Ghostlight” occurred on Monday, Sep tember 5, and rehearsals began immediately after. The cast and crew will con tinue rehearsing through the end of October, and “Ghostlight” will open the first of four shows on Fri day, October 28.

Book Review: What I read over the summer...

English I: “The Hunger Games” by Finley Wilke-Hiland, Contributing Writer

Over the summer, English I was assigned to read the book “The Hunger Games.” A fictional thriller filled with emotion, love and violence, the story is about a 16 year old protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. She participates in an annual activity called the Hunger Games, a competition containing 24 contestants competing for their life. Love and friendship get put to the test during the weeks of practice, preparation and hard work leading to one big battle of survival. Hunger Games contestants are constantly worrying about not having a place to sleep, getting shot or being killed at any time but also never being able to see their family and loved ones at home. As many battle for their life, there must only be one winner. This dystopian read triggers fear, determination and courage. I am so glad I got to read this intriguing novel as it has opened my eyes to a whole new world of fantastic literature.

English II Honors: “Like Water for Chocolate” by Lily Henry, Contributing Writer

“Like Water for Chocolate,” was like something I have never read before. There were many things I was disturbed by in the story, but I did appreciate the structure of it. So instead of normal chapters, each section of the book was based off of a Mexican recipe normally made during that month of the book, which was very clever by the author Laura Esquivel. Although there were inventive components of the novel as exemplified above, the majority of the book was pretty confusing. I can understand the point the author was trying to make with these confusing parts, but I feel that it just made the book gen erally really strange. I will credit the author for the “creativity” of some of the scenes in the story. Overall, I thought it was an interesting book, but it was just too much for me.

AP English Language and Composition: “Educated” By Mia Muzzi, Managing Editor

The AP English Language class was assigned to read Tara Westover’s memoir “Educated.” Westover wrote about her unique childhood, shining a light on the importance of education. She grew up in Idaho, helping her parents around their farm and house. Westover was unable to have a formal education until the age of 17, which made it very difficult for her to evolve into adulthood. The book then follows her journey through life as she battles with knowing self-worth and having the bravery to stand up for what she believes. Her moving and raw story of resilience and courage brings emotional feelings to the reader and made me feel grateful for the education I have had the opportunity to receive. “Educated” became my favorite book, and I am thankful because I would never have read it if it had not been assigned for our summer reading.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN CABRAL Tri-School Productions begins constructing the set for “Ghostlight.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTHA ANNE KUNTZ Lauren Zerella’s project is displayed in SFO.

Cross Country season begins

by Kate Davidson News Co-Editor

The start of the school year means a new cross country season. This year it also means a new coach, a larger team size and new goals.

The 2022 Cross Country season has begun and NDB welcomed new head coach, Tom McGlynn. McGlynn qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon three times and also ran at Penn State University before running with the Nike Farm Team. He has coached thousands of ath letes throughout his career and aims to teach them to become runners for life. McGlynn, alone with assis tant coach Will Evans, fo cuses on creating a positive environment for runners to work hard, build endurance and have fun.

This year, the team is larger than ever with al most thirty runners on the JV and varsity teams com bined. The three seniors on the team are sad that their last season had already be gun, yet are excited for the challenging races lined up ahead.

“I am really look ing forward to this season for many reasons, the most

being it is my senior year, so my last year to run with my team,” said team cap tain and senior Delaney Icard-Cullen. “I really be lieve we have a great big group of girls that are al ready starting the season so strong and well, and I can really see everyone im proving and achieving per sonal records.”

The first race of the season, the Lowell In vitational, occurred on September 10 in Golden Gate Park. The team will be running in the Ram In vitational at Westmoor HS on September 24. The usu al league meets will take

place starting in October into early November.

In preparation for the upcoming meets, the team has been training vig orously at practices. The team practices six times a week on and off campus.

One of the team’s favorite courses is Water dog Lake Trail in Belmont. The mile-long warmup paired with the two to sev en mile runs allow the girls to build endurance and strength while running. Completing the hard work outs, maintaining healthy eating habits and hydrating all prepare the team for the season ahead.

Varsity Tennis goes to Clovis

by Lauren Fitzgerald Staff Writer

On September 8, the Varsity Tennis team em barked on its annual week end tournament in Clovis. The tournament, the Cali fornia Tennis Classic, takes place a few miles outside of Fresno in the Central Val ley.

“The heat adds an interesting aspect to it. It makes it a lot harder,” said returning varsity player and junior Audrey Tang.

Athletes played over the course of two days with two matches on Fri day and two matches on Saturday. The tournament’s endurance requirement is rigorous, with match play spanning over the entire

day without the opportunity to leave the courts.

The tournament is notoriously hot, but due to the particularly extreme weather conditions caused by the California heat wave, match play was moved to 7 a.m. and ended earlier to avoid peak temperatures.

Despite the phys ical challenge, the team managed to make an array of positive memories. Ev ery year on Friday night af ter the tournament, the ath letes, coaches and parents gather for a formal dinner to bond as a team. It was a great way for the girls to get to know each other bet ter and relax after an event ful day of match play.

The team played great and bound togeth

Varsity Water Polo makes a splash at the Sierra Shootout

by Francesca Arbelaez Arts & Life Co-Editor

Bright and early at 5 a.m. on September 16, the Varsity Water Polo team made their way up to Sierra College in Rocklin to play in their first tournament of the season.

Sophomores Sa mantha Gould and Avery Nuss were pulled up from JV for this tournament to strengthen their skills and fill in for injured players.

The first game started at 8 a.m., hence the early departure time. The athletes were groggy, but jumped in the pool ready to play. Their first opponent was Granada HS, a large team from Pleasanton.

The game was off to a slow start with only two points for NDB at half-time. However, once the sun came out and the players had time to warm up, the score drastically increased. The game ended 8-10 with NDB taking their first win. This was thanks to junior Katie Johnson who scored three goals and a buzzer-beater by junior Mallory Moore.

Players had time to relax before their sec ond game that day at 11 a.m. against El Dorado HS. Head Coach Mike Marques

and the rest of the team brought many snacks for the players including do nuts and croissants for pregame fuel.

El Dorado HS struggled to keep up with the Tigers’ strength and speed. In the first quarter, NDB led 5-0 with Gould blocking every attempt their opponents made. NDB came together and worked well to bring an other win home that day, leading 14-7.

Marques, along with new JV Coach Scott Ray, expressed their pride that evening at the team dinner.

“You guys killed it out there today,” said

Marques. “We need to bring this energy into to morrow and the rest of the season.”

For their second day of the tournament, the Tigers woke up early again ready to play. Their oppo nents were Oakdale HS and then Whitney HS later that afternoon.

Both games re sulted in a loss for NDB. However, their sportsman ship was evident as the de feats did not dampen their spirits.

These losses were unfortunate, but due to the first two wins, NDB placed third in the tournament.

er to put out an admirable performance. Winning both their matches on Friday, they advanced onto Satur day’s contest for the cham pionship and were awarded 2nd place in their division. The team showcased their athleticism and teamwork by persevering through tough losses and severe conditions.

“I like the way the team got together, support ed each other and the bond ing that happened,” Varsity Tennis Coach Art Soriano noted.

With these wins on their back, varsity tennis continues confidently into the season.

Varsity Volleyball hosts the Tiger Cup tournament

by Ashley Turner Staff Writer

NDB hosted their annual Varsity Tiger Cup tournament on Septem ber 17. Teams of all divi sions, including Mercy HS, Carlmont HS and many others, competed in brack ets.

The Tigers’ first opponent was Moreau Catholic HS from Hay ward. NDB’s starting line up of strong players gave NDB their first victory of the day with a score of 2517.

Next, NDB faced off Logan HS from Union

City. The Tigers carried a lead throughout the first set. Logan put up a good fight, but NDB remained consis tent and focused. Logan HS won the match with the third set score being 15-9.

The loss did not discourage the Tigers and they continued to fight in their next game against San Rafael’s Marin Academy. While both teams went back and forth for a-while, NDB proved to be stronger and won both sets.

For the fourth and final match, NDB was set to oppose their sister school, Mercy HS. Earlier in the week, Mercy HS had won

their game against NDB, which seemed to fuel the Tigers’ will to win. The two teams battled for victory in the second set. With a final score of 28-26 in the sec ond set, the Tigers claimed 5th place overall.

“The Tiger Cup allows our team to play against teams we may or may not see during our sea son,” says Varsity Volley ball Assistant Coach Lucky Makropoulos. “Adjusting to opponents is vital for any team’s evolution, and the Tiger Cup allowed us to evaluate our strengths and areas of opportunity.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL WORRY

The JV and varsity Cross Country teams pose after their races at the Lowell Invitational.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARINA CARLSON Audrey Tang, ‘24 fights to win the point during her match in Clovis.

FRANCESCA ARBELAEZ / THE CATALYST Goalkeeper Samantha Gould blocks a shot.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM TURNER NDB huddles up before the game against Moreau Catholic HS.

Required pre-season weights are back

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

Weight training and cardio activity allows athletes to stay fit and pre pared for their sport sea sons ahead. This is why the weight sessions have re turned as a requirement for all NDB athletes. Over the summer, the weight room was filled with athletes from all fitness levels and sports teams.

Each returning athlete is required to com plete at least 20 workouts before their sport season begins. Multi-sport ath letes only need to attend 20 preseason workouts before their first sport of the sea son. This system is unique to NDB, being one of the only schools on the penin sula that maintains pre-sea son workout requirements for the athletes. This rule has been set in place for the past 15 years, however was put on hold for the past two years during COVID-19.

As fall sports be gin, athletes are required to attend weekly weight train ing sessions in the NDB weight room. Coach Kate Mahoney, who supervises the weight room, holds dai ly weight sessions for each sport, along with drop-ins. These sessions are about

30 to 45 minutes long with three sets of workouts rang ing from balance to stabili ty and core work.

“Through these sport specific exercises, athlete’s increase their strength and movement patterns which can translate

pre-season sessions has been proven to prevent potential injuries in NDB athletes. Making these sessions a requirement to participate in the sport en courages athletes to attend. These scheduled, simple workouts help strengthen

of potential injuries for the upcoming season.

Williams’ legacy lives on

to increased performance in their sport,” Mahoney shared.

Requiring these

- Kate Mahoney Athletic Coordinator

muscles, while also exer cising tendons and stretch ing ligaments, which ulti mately prevent the amount

“Having a good base of conditioning and strength leading into a sports season can great ly lower the risk of injury. The focus of every work out is proper mechanics of all exercises. If an athlete does no training leading into a sports season their body will not be ready for the stress that is put on it during practices and com petitions which can lead to injuries,” Mahoney stated. NDB athletes are going into their sports ready for the seasons ahead.

Golf gets into the swing of the season

by Hannah Nebres Arts & Life Co-Editor

With the start of school comes the start of fall sports, and golf is no exception. The varsity team of 12 welcomed six new players to their roster, along with their new coach, Douglas Requilman from the Spiritual Life Depart ment.

The team began practicing in early August with practices from Mon day to Friday at Mariners Point Golf Center in Foster City. Practices consist of long games at the driving range, along with chipping or putting in the short game area. The team has been preparing for the season ahead by holding consistent weekly practices, as well as making time for games at Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica. This allows the athletes to get comfortable playing on the course.

Varsity Golf at tended its first match on August 9 at the Burlingame Country Club, original ly against Crystal Springs Uplands HS, but due to a scheduling conflict, it was changed to a three-way match against both Crystal Springs Uplands and Cas tilleja from Palo Alto.

The Tigers lost to Crystal Springs Uplands with a final score of 290 to

227. The team’s resilience and sportsmanship shone through as the next match was upcoming. Three days later, on September 1, the team hosted NDSJ at Moffett Field in Mountain View. The Tigers emerged victorious with a 249 to 283 win. The low score can be attributed to junior Savan nah Sweet, who finished with two birdies, an eagle and a two-over-par score.

Although golf is an individual sport, the Ti gers showed their pride in sportsmanship, and their strength as a team was ev ident. While golf is not physically intense, the sport is notorious for its mental difficulty.

Unlike team sports, where players per form together and simul taneously, golf relies on each player’s individual performance. A player’s decisions in team sports like basketball directly af fect each teammate and the game moves at a fast er pace. However, in golf, the spotlight is fixated on each player and the team does not know how every one else is playing until the end of the match when each golfer’s score is added to gether.

After playing on NDB’s Varsity Basket ball team and Varsity Golf team, senior Abby Co com

pared playing a team sport and an individual sport.

“I think of golf as a team because we prac tice together. The only dif ference is, during games, you’re on your own. It’s you against someone else, and you’re not really think ing about anyone else,” Co continued. “You want your team to do good, but you’re just focusing primarily on yourself... in basketball, you have to focus on the

other four people on the team on the court.”

Going into the season with these wins and losses has bonded the team and proved their resilience and determination to have a great season. Varsity Golf is looking forward to the rest of its season, and the team hopes to continuous ly improve their skills and take home new lessons from each match.

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

American professional tennis player, Serena Wil liams, walked off the court for the last time after the Wom en’s U.S. Open in New York on September 2.

Holding the title of top female tennis player in the world for several years, Williams transformed the sport of tennis, inspiring African American athletes and altering women’s sports forever.

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles and six dou bles titles, she has matured into being one of the best ten nis players of all time.

Williams began her love of tennis at just three years old and became a professional at just 14. For Wil liams, everything began after her first competitive match in October 1995. This then led to her first rotation in the Grand Slams in 1998.

Although an extremely difficult decision for Wil liams, she eventually decided that it was time to say good bye to her beloved sport. As she gets older, and so does her only daughter Olympia, she wants to prioritize her family and life that she has outside of tennis with hopes of possi bly expanding her family.

Williams’ resilience, strength and determination toward tennis is admirable to people all over the world. Being an African American woman walking into a sport that lacks cultural diversity, her persistence proved her love for the sport and strength that she has for herself. She changed the way women are viewed as athletes in general.

Williams redesigned the collared shirt and classic tennis skirt with her full-blown tennis fashion. By domi nating matches, she changed the look of tennis.

Along with her influence and power, Williams inspires many on and off the court. While off the court, she participates in charity work, and has since 2006. Due to her donations and determination, she holds the title of Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Through UNICEF, she is working to raise awareness and money for the opportunity of school and an education for kids all around the world.

Even after her retirement from the sport, Wil liams’ legacy will forever live on. Her admirable strength and determination throughout her career has inspired women all over the world. Her tenacity lit a spark for many young women, which will add fuel to her eternal flame.

EDWIN MARTINEZ / WIKIMEDIA Serena Williams serves at the U.S. Open in 2013.

JENNIFER JIN / THE CATALYST

Tennis athletes roll out their muscles after a weight room session.

HANNAH NEBRES/ THE CATALYST

Junior Dani DeMera gets ready to tee off at Crystal Springs Golf Course.

Follow @NDBAthletics for the fall season sports news, game schedule and scores.

“Through these sport specific exercises, athlete’s increase their strength and movement patterns...”

In memory of Nicole Claire Lindeman, ‘20

by Caitlin Earnshaw, ‘20 Alumna Contributor

During the 2019-2020 school year, Nicole and I were seniors. It was the week before school start ed, and she had a bunch of Link Crew events to work. I had nothing. So, my days consisted of waiting for Nicole to get back from school, so we could hang out. On one of those days, I was having a particularly hard time, so I called Nicole. She told me she couldn’t leave yet, but as soon as she was done, she would come and pick me up. I knew this was going to be the answer, but I was still sad to have to wait. Although I do not remember saying anything, she must have heard it in my voice because, within the next few sec onds, she was telling me I could come join her at school, and then we could do something afterward.

So, that’s exactly what I did. I got in my car and drove over to NDB and pretended to be on Link Crew for the rest of the day. After, we left in her car. She turned on the music all the way up and drove us to her house for a quick stop and check-in with her parents before leaving again, just for a drive. We ended up in a parking garage in downtown San Carlos, having a dance party.

This is one of my favorite memories with Nicole. Not because it was a great day and we did great things, but because it was a bad day that was turned around by being with Nicole and doing exactly what we always did: Go to school, drive around and have a dance party.

Nicole could turn my whole day around with a smile because she knew me. She really knew me. That was just the type of person she was: Someone who loved deeply and showed it.

Earlier this month, I spoke at Nicole’s funeral. It was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. And, when it was over, all I wanted to do was call Nicole, so she could listen, then tell me she’s on her way to pick me up because we’re going on a drive. So, my worst day could be a little bit better.

But, that can’t happen.

Now, all we have left are stories and memories. I feel very lucky to have quite a few of them, but I still wish I had more. I wish I had one more memory of her laughing to the sound of her own singing voice. Because that is just how bad it was.

One more memory of her bonding with a stranger about being gluten-free. It didn’t matter if we were in the middle of the aisle at Lucky’s, she was stopping to chat.

One more memory of her asking for a hug with a big smile on her face, her arms outstretched and, if anyone took too long to give the hug, the smile would fade into a mocking pout.

One more memory of her calling me to debrief Sunday’s episode of “Euphoria.” Even though we would text all throughout the episode, a call the next morning was still essential.

One more memory of her dancing around her kitchen. The wooden spoon in hand as a micro phone was my most favorite touch.

One more memory of her pretending to help her parents load the car – One time, she proclaimed starting the car would be the biggest help, so she climbed in and then blasted the air in attempt to dry her wet clothes from a day on the river.

I just want one more. And, if you knew Nicole, you would, too.

Because she was beautiful and kind. She was welcoming and passionate. But, above everything she was, she was a friend and a sister to nearly everyone she came across.