J | The Catalyst | Volume 5, Issue 1 | August 2018

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CATALYST

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

Community welcomes students back to school

Volume 5, Issue 1

1540 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002

Freshmen meet ASB leaders to learn more about everyday life at NDB.

by Johana Ligtenberg Editor in Chief

The Titans, Gators, and Knights came back to school yesterday to meet the 115 members of the yet-to-be-named freshmen class of 2022, eleven new transfer students, thirteen new faculty and staff members, and a number of changes throughout campus, ready and waiting to welcome them to the 20182019 school year.

When asked what advice she would give to students, Head of School Maryann Osmond said, “I would say you are going to find your true self here, and you’re going to be loved, and you’ll have friends for life.”

Yesterday, students followed a special schedule, beginning with homeroom at 8:30 am and continuing with Blocks 1, 2, 3 and 4. They ended their day with ASB’s Welcome Back Rally in the Moore Pavilion with its newly refinished floors. The girls showed off their school and class spirit with loud cheers and playing several games, including tug of war, lip sync battle between students and teachers, and dodgeball.

Today, students will follow another special schedule, beginning again with homeroom and continuing with Blocks 5, 6 and 7. They will end their day with Spiritual Life’s Hallmark Prayer Service.

One of the most significant changes this year is to the bell schedule. School now starts at 8:30am and ends at 2:55pm everyday with 75 minute-long classes, allowing students a more consistent late start to sleep-in compared to last year.

A-days still consist of Blocks 1, 2, 3 and 4, while B-days now consist of Blocks 5, 6 and 7 along with Teacher Office Hours at the end of the day.

During afternoon TOH, faculty and staff will remain on-campus for students to meet with teachers to make up missed assignments and receive assistance on homework. Students are strongly encouraged to take

ASB leaders set the example for school pride and spirit to the freshmen and transfer students.

Ambassador club members greet freshmen, transfer students and their families at the New Parent Orientation.

@theNDBCatalyst

August 2018

Link Crew helps freshmen with high school transition

by Parker Daley News Editor

Last week, Link Crew welcomed the school’s Class of 2022 and oriented them to their new home for the next four years. Lead by several juniors and seniors, the program helps the new freshmen how to transition from middle school to high school, showing them what it takes to be a NDB student.

From Monday to Wednesday, Link Crew members met to plan the freshman orientation schedule and other events and were trained on how to lead small groups and what to discuss with them.

This was an especially exciting moment for the juniors because it would be their first time in these leadership roles and it would be their first time meeting their sister class.

Junior Sophie Aho said, “I think that freshman orientation is beneficial because it is a great ice break-

er.”

On Thursday, Link Crew was ready. The day began with the 115 freshmen running through the gauntlet: a hallway lined with Link Crew members as well as administrators, faculty and staff, and other students who were there to welcome them. Though some of the new ninth graders looked nervous, many of them relaxed during the opening assembly.

The freshmen were divided into their groups, and the Link Crew members began introducing each other and telling them how to survive their first days at NDB.

Aho said, “The freshmen have the opportunity to socialize in a comfortable environment…

They can get familiar with their classmates before the school year begins.”

Together, they completed a series of activities that helped them to get to know each other and See Link Crew | Page 3

New faculty and staff members get oriented to campus

PHOTOS: ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

115 strong, the yet-to-benamed freshman Class of 2022 joins the Titans, Gators and Knights.

advantage of this time as a resource as needed.

Associate Head of School for Student Affairs Carolyn Hutchins said, “I’m hoping students will fully take advantage of the opportunity to meet with their teachers. They can work on group projects, they can work on homework, they can work on club stuff, but I just want them to take advantage of the time.”

Planning for many of the other changes began during the summer. Assistant Head of School Anne Schaefer and the various department chairs interviewed and hired new teachers and staff members, while Athletic Director Jason Levine coordinated the construction of two beach volleyball courts adjacent to the softball field. Meanwhile, the first and second floor girls bathrooms were renovated.

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Schaefer leads new teachers in a discussion.

by Johana Ligtenberg Editor in Chief

There are thirteen new faculty and staff members who joined the NDB community for the 2018-2019 school year. Of the thirteen, there are nine teachers throughout six academic departments and four staff members in Advancement and Counseling.

And, there are three NDB alumnae from the Class of 1996, 2007, and 2011.

Last Thursday, Associate Head of School for Academics Anne Schaefer gathered the newcomers in the Conference Room

for a daylong orientation to the in’s and out’s of NDB

When asked what was the most important thing that the new teachers should know before the year starts, Schaefer says, “There is so much, but the one thing that I asked of them actually is to treat this year as their one and only time to look at our school with fresh eyes.”

During their lunch break, the Catalyst met with several of these new members of the community.

Brenda Barry is See NEW TEACHER| Page 3

OPINION Letter from the Editor Staff Editorial: Advice page 2

Johana Ligtenberg Editor in Chief @TheNDBCatalyst

As a rising senior, I am both shocked and excited at how rapidly my time at NDB has flashed by. As cliche as it sounds, it truly feels like yesterday that my classmates and I were scared freshmen, getting lost on our way to class during the first week -- though, in all fairness, I did this during my junior year, too -- and feeling intimidated by what the next four years might hold.

For both wide-eyed freshmen and returning students alike, the beginning of the school year is an intimidating time. The nine-and-a-half-month-span from mid-August to the end of May when our days are shaped by hours at NDB, sitting in classes, doing extracurriculars, and working on homework and other assignments is also a period of immense change in many of our lives. During every year of high school, I have made new friends, discovered new passions, and grown as a person through my experiences.

My junior year was perhaps my most influential year so far -- which also happened to be the year that I discovered my passion for Journalism. In the midst of an immensely rigorous year, it was an escape where I was able to channel my passion for creativity and writing into an outlet that also contributed to the community. Last year, I wrote over twenty stories in all sections across our seven print issues and two online issues and, at the end of the school year, learned that I would serve as this year’s Editor in Chief.

Our goal at the Catalyst and my ambition as this year’s EIC is not just to provide NDB with an outlet to accurate and current news about the many events taking place in our community, but also to bring us closer together. When picking up a newspaper, you may read a story that lifts you or upsets you, that you can relate to, or that opens your mind. Journalism is a more powerful medium than many people may realize because stories about others have the power to evoke strong emotions and a sense of connection between people.

I hope each and every student who attends NDB is able to take advantage of our school’s many unique opportunities to discover and develop their passion -- and that perhaps some of you will join the Journalism class or club.

It truly takes a village of reporters, writers, photographers, and designers to produce our papers, and I would also like to extend my gratitude towards the staff, the school, and our readers for your continuing support.

theCATALYST EDITOR IN CHIEF Johana Ligtenberg MANAGING EDITOR Michelle Kleytman NEWS EDITOR Parker Daley FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas ABOUT THE CATALYST The Catalyst is a student-run newspaper that is published in print and online during the school year for Notre Dame High School community.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Catalyst accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty/staff and community members as well as press releases from on and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. It reserves the right to edit or reject submissions that it deems objectionable.

The views expressed in the Opinion section do not reflect the views of The Catalyst, Notre Dame High School, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, or the Archdiocese of San Francisco, but are solely the views of the writer. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst.

CONTACT US The Catalyst Notre Dame High School 1540 Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002 Phone: (650) 595-1913 Email: TheCatalystNDB@gmail.com Website: TheNDBCatalyst.com Social Media: TheNDBCatalyst

by the Editorial Staff

Teachers, do not be alarmed! I come in peace. As a newly minted senior in hopes of finding common ground, I believe I speak on behalf of all students that, although the school year has barely started, we are already swamped.

But, before I begin asking you for an extension or extra credit, I’d love to take the opportunity to give you a few pointers.

I understand what you must be thinking right now: you, the superior, taking advice from an underling, on how to have a successful school year? On what grounds?

Yes, I know this is completely absurd, but, if you will give me a moment, let me explain myself.

You have your classes, and I have mine.

We both are stressed or, if one of us is doing particularly well, the other is not stressed, but knows they will be soon. You give us advice all the time. It is part of the job. Whether it is reprimanding us for a sweatshirt that isn’t in the dress code, taking our phone because we are using it during class time, or simply explaining whatever is your lesson of the day -Bottom line is that you are always giving us advice.

So, with that said, let me, the one who has

to Teachers

PHOTO: KNOWYOURMEME.COM

Teachers, don’t do anything that will turn you into a meme. hopefully picked up on a thing or two from the past three years being amongst you all, and return the favor. Here is a list that I have created to maximize the cool in school.

1. Be funny. This is how you wake up your first block and get your third block out of the lunch coma. Whether it is Loeffler-esque -- riddled with math puns -- or Currier-like -- filled with wit -- we love it. Even when we say we hate it, we truly do love it.

2. Answer our questions.

I know. Sometimes they are about what corner we should write our name in.

And, sometimes, we want you to repeat instructions

for the fifth time in a row.

But, whatever the question, please give us the answer!

Our energetic minds are oozing curiosity; some of it even intellectual!

3. Make us talk. The figurative sound of crickets filling the room are just as bad when it’s the same student’s voice being heard ad nauseum. Some of us aren’t the most talkative, and others are, but not in the ideal way. Don’t do flashcards or go by seating chart. Find the medium in which we feel like you want to hear us, but you want to hear all of us. Your vocal chords could also use a break from lectures. Just looking after you.

4. Don’t pick sides. Whether you’re an English, History, Math, or Spiritual Life teacher, we can tell when you have a bias. And, the kids aforementioned who might be shy will only hear your side and not learn to see it from both sides. In a time of political divisiveness and especially in our location, seeing only one side of things is not preparing us for the real world.

We want to hear about everything. We want to learn even if we don’t say it.

5. Give us food. I mean, this one is kind of a given.

I hope this helps. We want a good year. We want to see you thrive and become our favorite teachers.

Pro/Con: Should NDB have summer reading assignments?

Summer reading is a Summer reading is necessary evil unhealthy

by Michelle Kleytman Managing Editor

by Johana Ligtenberg Editor in Chief

If you’re reading this, you are probably sitting at a desk right now in a classroom. You have so much on your mind right now since school has arrived in full swing, and the homework assignments that were given to you a couple months back are either on the backburner because you finished them, front and center, or because you have yet to do them, or even nowhere at all because you completely forgot. Whatever the situation, we all have summer assignments. And, for good reason.

I understand that the ideal summer vacation is a hiatus in all its forms: a break from school, classes, and even the workload. And, that is exactly what you receive!

Your workload is curtailed significantly. A basic math assignment took a couple hours at most. Reading the books, yes, did take longer, but were fascinating if you gave them the necessary attention that they so rightfully deserve. And, essays did nothing but make you think critically of what you wanted to say before you said it.

I know everyone knows the feeling of picking up a pencil for the first time in a long time and attempting to write normally. With summer homework, the foresign feeling to such an intrinsic concept is diminished. You don’t have to feel as overwhelmed as you would if you were to have a three-month-long-break without touching a single piece of writing or mathematics exercise.

So, whether you are on the side of pro or con, you must agree that summer assignments are not only essential to upholding and working your developing mind, but also to maintaining a balanced lifestyle during a vacation that transitions into seven hour day, five days a week. And if you can’t agree with that, then how about we settle on a necessary evil?

Summer vacation is often regarded as a much anticipated time for all students. The idea of freedom from the shackles of school and the hours of homework and studying that comes with it is a utopia to students.

So why is this freedom stunted by summer reading assignments? While it’s understandable that students in AP courses may need to begin some of the curriculum early to be adequately prepared for AP exams, most regular classes include copious quantities of homework. This typically includes reading novels, watching videos, completing equations and, of course, the reflection questions.

At NDB, I have had summer homework in nearly every subject. While the summer workload is significantly less than during the school year, why call it summer break when it’s hardly a break at all? Students are plagued with the challenge of strategically managing their time when it comes to summer assignments. Some opt to do it all in the beginning; others space it out throughout the break. But, due to packed schedules or sometimes a lack of productivity, the most popular decision seems to be to wait until the end: stress all of break and, during those last sweet days, stay inside and work on homework instead of spending time with friends or family. I have tried both options and neither allows me to fully relax and enjoy my summer free of stress and anxiety.

So why have summer homework at all? Students would be happier and come into the new school year better rested and fulfilled, rather than already annoyed at their teachers for a particularly time-consuming or tedious assignment. This work allow more productivity and a healthier work environment from day one -- And, who doesn’t want that?

NEWS

Link Crew: “I think it’s a great opportunity...”

From Link Crew | Page 1 learn academic and social skills that will be valuable for them for their high school career.

One activity was team juggling that modeled the effort that these former eighth graders and new ninth graders will have to put in their everyday lives in order to keep their academic, extracurricular, and personal lives in balance throughout high school.

Freshman Peyton Daley said, “Freshmen orientation was a great way to meet other students and faculty!”

On Friday, the freshmen returned with

their families for New Parent Orientation. While the freshmen took their first ID picture and whole class picture, their families met with various administrators, faculty, and staff members throughout campus to learn about the school. The orientation ended with a barbeque for everyone to socialize.

Link Crew’s moderator is Jennea Glenn, a new mathematics and science teacher as well as NDB alumnae from the Class of 2011.

She says, “I am super-excited for Link Crew.

I think it’s a great opportunity to help build school

spirit and also a community across our sister grades and helping freshman feel integrated.”

She further explained, “I mean, how better a freshman experience can you get than already knowing some older classmates? Working with high schoolers will definitely be different for me, but I am really excited to do that. ”

Link Crew members will continue to support the freshmen throughout the year with activities and other events planned especially for them to ensure they get through their first year.

page 3

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Freshmen gather for their first class photo.

New Teachers: “...look at our school with fresh eyes.”

From NEW TEACHER| Page 1

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

New teachers discuss the NDB Hallmarks during their orientation.

the new Spanish I and Spanish III Honors teacher.

She has taught in the Bay Area as well as Ireland and the United Kingdom. She looks forward to NDB’s all-girls environment because she attended an allgirls school herself.

Catherine Licht is the new American Sign Language teacher. She has been an advocate for the Deaf community working at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont as a career awareness teacher for five years and as a founder for the non-profit organization, Deaf Hope, for ten years.

Dr. Mallika Sri-

nivasan will teach Biology and Chemistry. When asked what she is looking forward to most about teaching at NDB, she said, “The first thing is all girls -- I’m coming a full circle. In India, I got my high school education at an Italian Catholic convent for all-girls, and I really had a blast. And so, when I was interviewing here, this was one of the major attractions, was all girls, and I can focus more and have fun, instead of watching.”

Overall, the NDB community’s sense of community and spirit were the most common reasons that the new faculty and staff members gave when asked what attracted them to

working at the school.

The new faculty and staff include: Christine Madrigal (‘07) in Advancement; Kari Allegri (‘96), Allan Gargaritano, Angela Moore in Counseling; Jennea Glenn (‘11) in Mathematics and Science; Dr. Mallika Srinivasan in Science; Audra Batter and Wendy Connolly in Social Sciences; Sister Marie Lindemann in Spiritual Life; Abby Alger and Joel McDonell in Visual and Performing Arts; and, Brenda Berry and Catherine Licht in World Languages.

The Catalyst will feature interviews with each of them over the next several issues.

New School Year, New Me!

Although it is commonly used in the month of January, the phrase “New year, new me” describes how many NDB student feel with the 2018-2019 school year beginning. With advice, resolutions, and other thoughts in mind, many students are looking forward to the new and exciting aspects of coming back to school, whether it be a rising sophomore or a senior just a year away from college. Here is what a few Tigers had to say:

“I’m looking forward to being on ASB. I want to make the year super fun for everyone. I’m especially excited to get to know the Class of 2022. I am also looking forward to enjoying the new things this school year will bring.”

-- Kelly Nolte, Senior

“I’m not going to hesitate to meet new people and try new things and just go all out for everything...”

-- Elyse Lemke, Junior

“‘My New Year, New Me’ thing is no more missing assignments because that will help me in the long run and stuff.”

-- Kendall Marques, Senior

“I wish I knew that even though I did really well I did on my first finals, it doesn’t necessarily mean I will do well on my second finals without studying. [I] should make a study guide for finals and I should follow that study guide...even in August.”

-- Annica Kim, Sophomore

“I’m looking forward to having a fresh start, getting to know new people, all the clubs, sports, water polo -- Pretty excited for that...”

-- Hannah Kawar, Junior

“This year, I hope to focus harder and just get better grades. I did focus hard last year, but I want to get extremely good grades. I already do a lot of study guides, but I don’t review them enough.”

-- Monica Bach, Sophomore

See pictures from the first day of school at TheNDBCatalyst.com and @TheNDBCatalyst

ARTS & LIFE / SPORTS

page 4

Review: Netflix’s “Insatiable” is misguided

by Johana Ligtenberg Editor in Chief

Premiering last Friday, Netflix’s newest original series “Insatiable” drew both controversy and praise even before its release due to how it addressed controversial issues regarding body image.

The show is described as “A bullied teenager turns to beauty pageants as a way to exact her revenge with the help of a disgraced coach who soon realizes he’s in over his head.” It features thirteen forty-minute long episodes and stars Debby Ryan of Disney Channel fame as the main character, Patty.

Prior to the show’s release, a Change.com petition was signed by several hundred thousand people who called for its cancellation for allegedly promoting fat-shaming and the idea that a woman’s attractiveness is dependent on her weight.

A day in the life of a Tiger

Just some of the things that happened to our readers over the summer...

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTHA ANNE KUNTZ

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT FROM NETFLIX.COM

Patty is shamed by a homeless man who wants her candy.

Ryan released a statement on her Instagram, writing, “As someone who cares deeply about the way our bodies, especially women’s, are shamed and policed in society, I was so excited to work on ‘Insatiable’ because it’s a show that addresses and confronts those ideas through satire.”

With this in mind, I cautiously embarked on watching the first episode.

It was an interesting ex-

perience, to say the least.

It was full of fat jokes, inthe-closet jokes and references, and a more than fair amount of assault jokes and implications. It was definitely hard to get through.

The first episode alone included perhaps the worst themes of several popular teen TV shows with the main character nearly committing murder and using her new self as a manipulation tactic.

The biggest thing I noticed about the show was how much it attempted to address difficult themes.

The issue perhaps lay not in the content, but in the execution, and the lack of tact in which themes relating to a plethora of women’s issues were represented and the way that these situations played out, sending a questionable message to teens.

“Mrs. Kuntz, Gerry, and the Pantheon in Rome, Italy. Art history, love, and a great meal... who could ask for anything more?”

PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL SHANLEY

“Ms. Shanley joined the San Jose Seahawks Women’s Rugby team this summer, after playing rugby for two years in college!

Athletics Department adds Beach Volleyball program

by Michelle Kleytman Managing Editor

During the summer, two beach volleyball courts were constructed on the southwest corner of campus adjacent to the softball field. The Catalyst interviewed NDB Athletic Director Jason Levine about the school’s new Beach Volleyball program and its latest additions to the campus’ athletic facilities.

The Catalyst (TC): How did NDB get a Beach Volleyball program?

PHOTO: GEORGE RETELAS

Jason Levine (JL): I would say about four or five years ago, Lisa Smoot, mother of Katie (‘17) and Krissy (‘19), approached Head of School Maryann Osmond about Beach Volleyball.

She knew it was about to become something big.

She brought statistics about how it had become the fastest growing girls sport.

Barry Peters, father of Kendall (‘19), started a beach volleyball league -- He went down to Southern California where it was a big sport and came back, wanting to start a Bay Area league.

There were four teams that jumped on it right away. There was the Branson School, NDB, Palo Alto HS, and Woodside HS. We had three competitions, two of which

were held at the Foundry in Redwood City. The winner would go down to play the seven best teams from Southern California.

TC: How did the school construct the two courts?

How long did it take?

JL: Construction started a week after school ended, and it was done in four days. What they did was come in and take off the top layer of grass. They measured the flatness of the area, and everything slopes to the east.

Costs actually were lower than expected.

The money all came from parents -- strictly donations. The Athletic Boosters helped with a portion, but most of what was collected was made by anonymous donations or people who wrote checks to help cover those initial costs.

TC: And, how much does it cost to maintain the courts?

JL: Zero. Every year, we will have to think, “Do we need another dump of sand?” But, right now, we don’t need to worry about that because we had like ten dump trucks with sand come in.

The nets are always done. When Beach Volleyball players want to use the courts, they have to put the nets up.

TC: Will NDB host games and compete against other schools?

JL: Right now, we can’t have league tournaments because it would be only eight girls playing. But, if we were to have four courts -- That’s sixteen girls playing, which is eight schools.

We already have our team, and girls will come out again during the spring. We will play whoever decides to join the Northern California Beach Volleyball league. It’s not a CIF sport yet. It’s still a club sport.

TC: What are the plans for the future of NDB’s Beach Volleyball program?

JL: We’re not going to build the next two courts until we have raised the money. The Olympic Club has already given us $10,000 for the next set.

We’re going to start running weekend camps and clinics, and that money will go right into NDB.

What we want is student athletes saying, “Hey, let’s go train on the beach…” I want this to become something for our community, too. It’s for everybody, not just the volleyball players.

Write for the Catalyst. Contact the editors at TheCatalystNDB@gmail.com.