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OPINION | Page 2

THE SCHOOL’S NEW UNIFORM POLICY

the

ARTS & LIFE | Page 6 GOING TO YOUR FIRST MUSIC FESTIVAL

SPORTS | Page 7 ATHLETES RETURN FOR THE FALL SEASON

CATALYST

T H E S T U D E N T N E WS PA P E R O F N OT R E DA M E H I G H S C H O O L

Volume 6, Issue 1

www.TheNDBCatalyst.com

Welcome Wildcats!

Frosh gets their head in the game with the Spartans, Knights and Gators

August/September 2019

New classrooms and teachers start off the year

NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

New furniture and IdeaPaint walls adorn Room 124. by Editorial Staff

As the NDB community began a new school year, several newly renovated classrooms as well as new faculty and staff members were present to greet students back to campus. PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTigers

The Class of 2023 gathers for the first time during Freshman Orientation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTigers

A few freshmen participate in an ice breaker activity. by Annalee Wolfe Staff Writer

One hundred and nineteen new faces joined the NDB community at the start of the school year. In the past few weeks, the incoming Class of 2023 got their class color (red), voted for their mascot (Wildcats), class council and homeroom presidents, and got a taste of NDB’s spirited

traditions. On September 10, the Wildcats voted to elect its first class council. President Kassandra Hickson, Vice-President Amelia Ailanjian, Secretary/Treasurer Abbi Edelhart, Activities Director Sophia Rask, Athletics Director Abbey Earnshaw, Spirit Commissioner Jules Evans and Historian Bridget Sennett will lead them throughout

their first year at NDB. When asked what her goals as class president are for the year, Hickson said, “My goal is to make sure that all the freshmen are involved in the school in some way. I want everyone to feel like their opinions are valued and that they are important.” Class Vice-President Ailanjian added, “Some goals I have for the year is to make all of the activities that the freshman class participates in lots of fun and done in a civil way.” The Wildcats began their journey back in mid-August, participating in a variety of events that included Frosh Field Day and the Frosh Dance. The field day was organized and coordinated by the Junior Class Council and Link Crew. This was the first

annual field day event designed for this and future incoming freshman classes where the juniors, their sister class, would lead them in games, ice breakers, and other activities with the hope of starting class bonding at the very beginning of their journey. Freshman Class Coordinator Jonathan Tomczak commented on his experience in helping to plan this event. He said, ”We did 20 separate individual activities across the school. And so we spent a couple months developing it, Junior student council and myself.” He continued, “It was good. There are a lot of challenges and figuring out what to do, how to do it, where to get supplies and everything, but it was a good experience.”

NDB is known for many things: our pride, our spirit, and our tight-knit community. Perhaps the most important thing that makes our school special is our commitment to sisterhood. The tradition of pairing up the freshman with the juniors and sophomores with the seniors has been long-running and is a signature trademark of NDB. The sister classes’ support for each other becomes clear during spirit events like fundraisers,

rallies, and Aquacades, but besides that, there can be a lack of interaction between them during other times of the year. The Junior Class Council, along with the help of the Freshman Class Coordinator Jonathan Tomczak have come up with the solution to this problem: an official Sister Program. The program focuses specifically on building the relationship between the freshman and juniors. It will develop throughout the school year with a series of social activities designed to help the classes get to know each other on a more personal

During the summer, all of the classrooms on the first floor received a much needed facelift. Foam tiles that have adorned walls for many years were removed, and the walls underneath them were patched and painted. Whiteboards that were installed on top of the building’s original chalkboards were removed, and a coat of IdeaPaint whiteboard paint was applied. The old carpet was removed and a new one installed. See NEW CLASSROOMS | Page 3

Collaboration program revamped Underclassmen get more structured study time

See CLASS OF 2023 | Page 5

First Sister program builds sister class bonds by Amelia Kyle Arts & Life Editor

Renovated classrooms

NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

A few students collaborate on an assignment. by Parker Daley Editor in Chief

level. The first sister event of the year was the ice cream social event, which took place on August 26 during the afternoon Collaboration. A few days before the event, the junior council sent out a survey for every freshman and junior to fill out, which asked questions about their interests and hobbies. Its purpose was to help pair up one freshman (the “little sister”) with one junior (the “big sister”) and have them spend time at the social getting to know each other.

In place of last year’s Teacher Office Hours (TOH), NDB implemented a revamped version of its former Collaboration program. Students will still receive about one hour of time to study independently or collaboratively or to meet with teachers and other faculty or staff members. However, freshmen and sophomores must stay in their homerooms, while juniors and seniors may sign out of their homerooms and go to designated study areas, such as the dining room, the library, or other teachers’ classrooms. Sophomore Jorja Fox shared, “I like this year

See FIRST SISTER | Page 5

See COLLABORATION | Page 4

OPINION

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Letter from the Editor in Chief Parker Daley Editor in Chief @TheNDBCatalyst

As a freshman, I wouldn’t have imagined that attending one Journalism meeting towards the end of the school year would get me to this point. I wrote one article that year, but I enjoyed the experience so much that I came back as a sophomore. My thought was that, because I liked writing, I would occasionally contribute to The Catalyst over my four years here. Flash forward a few months, and an opportunity arose for me to attend a nation-wide Journalism conference in San Francisco. This gave me a taste of the excitement of journalism: the issues that it can explore and the change that it can promote. For the rest of the year, I wrote articles using the skills that I gained at this conference, and sharing stories that were meaningful to me. Junior year came around, and I was offered the position of News Editor for The Catalyst. This was incredibly exciting to me, and I loved getting to put together the News pages, as well as continuing to write articles. Last year was the first time that one of my articles was blocked from being published, as well as the first time that I published an opinion piece regarding a controversial school policy. These experiences helped me grow as a journalist, and showed me first hand the power of the media. This year, I am extremely excited that The Catalyst no longer has prior review; what we publish is up to us. However, as Editor in Chief, I promise to evaluate each article subjectively and treat this right with respect. My aim is to not only accurately report on school, local, national and global news, but also to provide a forum for student authors to share their opinions. The reason that I love Journalism so much is because I believe that it is one of the best agents of social change. This can be on the small scale, as I have seen within our school while working on The Catalyst for the past three years, or the large scale. My goal for The Catalyst this year is to be one of the many news sources that students can turn to to gain a better understanding of current events and to help determine their opinions on them. Obviously, this couldn’t happen without those working hard to put this paper together. A huge thank you to Mr. Rojas, the Editorial Staff, and all members of the Journalism Class and Club for granting me this responsibility and working so hard on this newspaper.

Should NDB have relaxed its uniform policy? Yes

Kaitlyn Lopez Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

Caitlin Earnshaw Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

For the 2019-2020 school year, NDB has made changes to its uniform policy. The most popular change was that students were no longer required to wear NDB polos, but could wear NDB t-shirts instead. Wearing NDB shirts are better than polos because they allow students to have more variety in their clothing, despite still wearing a uniform. Students are already limited as-is by wearing only navy and khaki skirts or pants. But, wearing shirts with a variety of colors and designs allows students to spice up their uniform instead of wearing the same boring white or navy polo everyday. NDB shirts are also very convenient to wear to school, especially for athletes that have practice or weight training after school. Instead of rushing to get clothes from their lockers and waiting in long bathroom lines to change, it is easier to be already wearing an NDB shirt. Another popular change in the dress-code was that NDB finally allowed students to wear leggings for modified-free dress Fridays. Some people at NDB believed that leggings were inappropriate to wear at school because they displayed too much of the girls’ figure. Numerous students disagreed with the policy because all pants can show off a person’s body. After wearing a uniform everyday, it is nice to wear comfortable leggings on Fridays. Students want to relax and ease their way into the weekend to wear leggings as a reward for all the hard work they put into their classes. There should be nothing wrong with wearing leggings because no one will be distracted or disturbed by the “display” of girls’ bodies because they are fully clothed. A t-shirt and leggings are not inappropriate or revealing as far more worse clothing items. If students are working hard and putting in all their effort at school, they might as well be able to be comfortable while attending.

NDB prides itself on empowering young women. But, before this year, I had come to the understanding that each young student’s “general appearance should be appropriate to the business of school.” In order to produce professional work, we had to dress the part. Now, the Administration has relaxed the uniform policy. Polos are no longer required, leggings can be worn on modified-dress days, and each student is permitted one nose piercing if desired. This was the result of a majority of students breaking the dress code in previous years. Students who chose to ignore the contract they had signed and disregard the requests of authority simply got what they wanted. This choice to “give in” to the students has altered the way I choose to look at the school. If, in past years, NDB insisted on dressing to prepare for our successful and professional futures, where do they hold their expectations now? As a college-prep school, are they losing sight of their mission to prepare us? Many argue that allowing more freedom in the way we dress is, in turn, permitting self-expression. I would disagree. Even with the previous uniform policy, students had a variety of choices. Skirts and polos came in two colors, any NDB hoodie could be worn, and students had freedom in the shoes and socks they wore in the dress code. Simple jewelry was a method of expression. So, this change in policy was not to encourage self-expression. However, if it were to encourage anything it would be encouraging rebellion and disobeying school-authority. NDB should go back to the original school uniform policy because it would better prepare young students for a professional career and the ideas that you cannot get away with anything and you won’t always get what you want.

Poll: Relaxed uniform or strict uniform? Things that students would like to add to the school dress code: tattoos non-NDB sweatpants ripped jeans college hoodies flip flops more than 4 piercings per ear non-traditional hair colors slippers

Fake News? Not here.

Information compiled and designed by Victoria Giomi, Staff Writer

theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

EDITOR IN CHIEF Parker Daley ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Amelia Kyle PHOTO EDITOR Natalie Beier STAFF WRITERS Victoria Bartels | Paige Clarke

ABOUT THE CATALYST

publication.

The Catalyst is a student-run newspaper that is published seven times a year in print and 24/7 online for Notre Dame High School community.

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. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Catalyst accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as press releases from on and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee

NEWS

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News in brief: What’s happening in the NDB community When asked what she thought of her marriage now, looking back at it from over the summer, Kelly said, “Just the fun part of it all is remembering! Now is more fun than before the wedding because I get to reflect on how great it really was!” Community celebrates Mass of the Holy Spirit by Caitlin Earnshaw

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTEN KELLY

Mr. and Mrs. Kristen Kelly Ms. Menzel becomes Mrs. Kelly by Delaney Fox

Kristen Kelly, previously known as Kristen Menzel, got married this summer in Europe and wanted to share the story of this life-changing event with her colleagues and students. Kelly and her fiance, Brendan, decided to have their wedding in Paris, France with a small group of their closest family and friends and their reception in Ireland. She shared, “We knew right away; his whole family is there. The ceremony was in Paris, and that wasn’t a hard choice. The reception was in Ireland because most of my family and friends really wanted to go to Ireland, so everyone just went there. Having a wedding in a different country is a big task because you aren’t able to see the venue on a monthly basis and design it.” Kelly shared that her new husband planned the reception, including the band, cake, and decorations. She was surprised, but also excited because he did such a great job on everything. The reception was “really fun.”

The NDB community gathered in the Moore Pavillion on the morning of September 18 for the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Father Tom V. Martin presided over the school’s first liturgy of the school year. The mass provided time for prayer, reflection, and song, especially through the readings and homily. Senior Maddie St. Geme shared her thoughts on the mass. She said, “I thought it was a good first big mass. It was a good time of reflection and quiet time to adjust.” Music teacher Ashley Willits continues to plan the school’s liturgies and prayer services. She shared, “During meditation time, we have implemented something a little bit different to encourage student participation. Our goal is to make liturgies a relaxing and enjoyable experience for all students, no matter where they stand in their faith. It’s

NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

Father Martin distributes communion.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VIVA VORZIMMER

Students participate in the annual service event.

an opportunity to unite our Notre Dame family and pray for one another’s health, well-being and community.” Students walk-in service for Catholic workers by Emma Tsui On September 21, , students from Junipero Serra and Mercy HS’s and NDB participated in the annual four-mile walk from Mercy HS in Burlingame to the Catholic Worker Hospitality House in San Bruno, known as the Walk for Catholic Worker. Students participate in the event to raise awareness about poverty, injustice, and homelessness. Sophomore Emma Boyd said, “I like to give back to the community, so [the walk] makes me believe in what I do. It raises awareness and shows that it may seem like it, but not everybody in our community has the same privileges as we do.” After starting the morning with ice breaker activities, the students spent the morning walking to the house where they had a pasta lunch and received t-shirts.

New classrooms, faculty, and staff From Page 1 Campus maintenance lead Rafael Merino explained, “Ms. Osmond had the idea to renovate the entire downstairs. She wanted new whiteboards for teachers, and we replaced the old carpets with new ones. Hopefully, the teachers like it.” Other renovations included patching and painting the first floor hallways and reinstalling dozens of the school’s collection of class portraits from several decades on a picture rail system. One classroom typically occupied by the English department, Room 124, received new furniture designed to give teachers and students more flexibility in the environment and layout of the classroom. The school’s plan is to renovate the second floor classrooms next summer. New faculty and staff The NDB community welcomed several new members to its faculty and staff. As far as faculty goes, the Science department welcomed new Biology and Physics teacher, Bradley Hoge. He is also the new moderator of the

TigerBots, NDB’s robotics team. A familiar face from last school year, Ashley Dierolf is now teaching Biology and Environmental Science. The World Languages department welcomed new French teacher, Marlene Kissell. Another familiar face from last year, Erika Vetter is now teaching American Sign Language. The Spiritual Life department welcomed Doug Requilman. He is also the new Kairos Retreat Coordinator. The Visual and Performing Arts Department welcomed new Dance teacher, Kristine Chambers, and new Studio Art teacher, Katie Curry. The Catalyst asked Curry how her year was going so far. She responded, “I’m getting to know students. I think I generally developed pretty strong relationships with students and get to know them pretty well.” As far as staff goes, the Counseling department added new academic counselors Veronica Gasco and Caitlin Walsh. A member of the staff for many years coordinating the Empowered for Success program, Michelle Bizeau is also now the Associate Head of School, Wellness

and Empowerment. The Admissions team welcomed its new Associate Director of Admissions, Debbie Anderson, and Admissions Associate, Kelly McDonald. McDonald is a NDB alumna, having graduated in 2009. In other areas, two familiar faces from the last several years moved into new positions. Alisia Berghold is the Assistant Dean of Student Relations, while Rachel Shanley is the Dean of Student Life and Leadership. Advancement received a new director, Celine Curran. When asked about her favorite part of the new position, Bergholm said, “The thing I most enjoy about my position is being around the girls more. Every girl is different. After last year’s departure of two longtime administrators, the Administrative team welcomed its Associate Head of School, Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Linda Kern. These new members of NDB’s faculty and staff help make the experience at NDB unique. (With contributions by Caroline McCoy and Annalee Wolfe)

Write for The Catalyst Contact the Editorial Staff at TheCatalystNDB@gmail.com

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NEWS

Class of 2020: Gators ready to bite senior year by Bianca Lopez Staff Writer

The Class of 2020 is prepared for its last year of high school before its members begin their next chapter. So far, senior year, the long-awaited and bittersweet moment for the Gators, has been filled with planning for senior class-only events and enjoying their sisterhood as their last First Day of School rally, the Senior Splash, and the Giants game have flown by in what seems like a very short amount of time. This year, the seniors were allowed to get creative on the various picture days for their photos. VSCO girls, aliens, and princesses crammed the Prestige photo booth, waiting to be captured for their last high school ID. But, the fun did end there as all seniors have to retake their pictures on September 26 for their school record. Along with the fun, more carefree pictures, official wallet-sized senior portraits have started to float around the school. Gators have started handing out their autographed images to peers and teachers as a token of remembrance while they get ready to depart NDB. The Gator’s last welcome rally was one of their more successful rallies from the past three years. They stunned all other classes as well as faculty with the immense amount of spirit that they brought. They began the rally with a new senior chant led by student council members and continued to win many of the activities that ASB planned, coming out in first place. The Senior Splash came next. Usually held late in the fall, this year it was moved to the second week of school as warmth filled the pool. Music, floaties, and snacks crowded the pool deck as seniors tried to get their sisters to join the fun for the traditional class picture. Senior Delaney Fox said “It was such a great bonding experience for our class before we get ready to leave.” She followed up, “We all had a great time!” The Giants game took place on September 13 as the Gators made their way up to Oracle Park. Senior Caterina Newman described the event as “a fun, bonding experience.” She said, “I will always remember the game as part of my Senior year!” Caterina watched the Giants defeat the Marlins 1-0.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTigers

The Gators attend the traditional Senior Splash class event at the NDB pool. Senior student council has been very busy, al- Senior Class Coordinator Mirna Yao spoke about ready planning for this year’s Spirit Week, Halloween, and the Gators, saying “Right now, we are planning the big even Aquacades. prom reveal as well as getting prepared for Aquacades and Spirit Commissioner Avery McGlinchey shared the other class spirit events.” her thoughts about senior year, saying, “I feel like I have a Along with all the fun senior events, the college lot on my plate, but I want to make this year the best it can application season has started. Seniors had started asking be. Som I’ve started planning a lot already.” for teacher letters of recommendation as early as junior She continues by saying, “I’m very excited for year, but now it is time for the writing to begin. College the rest of the year and to get my classmates as hyped as I counselor Dina Cunha has begun visiting English classam.” es while sharing her knowledge on the different types of Alisia Bergholm, Dean of Student Relations, stat- college essays to ensure every student is prepared and can ed, “There’s a lot of stuff that we can’t tell you yet, but just write an appealing and creative essay. know, a lot of stuff is in the works and it’s all very excit- This year has consisted of the last of many firsts ing.” She is working closely with all student councils this as the seniors experience bittersweet excitement in their year to ensure the success of every class and to help their anticipation to graduate. Watch out for them this year – ideas come to life. They’re ready to bite back.

College app season is open by Claire Tierney and Caroline McCoy Staff Writers

The process of completing and sending off college applications is one that many high school seniors find daunting as it has been known to be extremely time-consuming and stressful. Many members of the Class of 2020 must endure the pain of standardized testing, writing personal statements, cramming as many APs as possible into their schedule, and even hiring tutors and counselors to assist their application process. One of the most important members of the college application process, NDB College Counselor, Dina Cunha, began the school year with college meetings during collaboration, visits to each senior English class, and almost daily emails in regards on how to speak with her. She is a focal point in the midst of the confusing college applications. Her years of experience as a college counselor and with almost four years with NDB students, Cunha is definitely someone to look to for advice during application season. The Catalyst spoke to three current seniors who are currently in the midst of completing their applications. When asked about her application status, Isabelle Collins said that, “Yes, I started my college applications. In fact, I’ve already submitted one, and I’m just waiting on them because I submitted the application the day it came out”. Many struggle to decide on how many schools to apply to. To show this contrast between students at NDB, Lena Bacon states that the number of schools she wishes to apply to is “a little less than 20” while Leilani Gellner confirms that she only wishes to apply to 10. This difference of opinions is also prevalent in regards to the environment at NDBe Bacon speaks in favor of the school’s efforts, saying that the environment “has been positive with Cunha coming into present” and that “[Cunha] has kind of released some of the stress that [the students] have had.” Collins related her experience at NDB to previous experiences at public school. “I think [the environment is] extremely positive because, at the public school I would have gone to, people are extremely hostile... They won’t tell anyone their GPA, they won’t tell anyone their grades.” Gellner shares a different opinion, stating that “I just think that [the school] is a little much with putting college on us,” continuing on to say, “I really would appreciate it if they like backed off of it.” Meanwhile, the essay process has also been a struggle for these students. The Catalyst talked to Collins about her process, and she responded that “It’s been really hard to reflect on my life and try to pull depth, but I’m really good at writing things that are really positive.” As the first semester of senior year for the Class of 2020 is ramping up, many can relate to the testimonies of these three students. By understanding the stress and time consuming effort that comes naturally to the college application process, the entire NDB community can support and uplift these young women.

Collaboration revamped From Page 1 better [than last year] because we’re more forced to get things done, instead of making our own decisions and then goofing off… It’s more productive and more organized.” Social Sciences teacher Jonathan Tomczak drafted a proposal for this new collaboration model. In an interview with The Catalyst, he discussed the two opposite sides of the spectrum that the school has, in the past few years, tried with this “eighth” block and how, this year, NDB is trying to find the happy medium. Tomzcak’s proposal is being reviewed by new Associate Head of School, Dr. Linda Kern and the faculty and staff and is being slowly implemented and reviewed for its effectiveness. The goal of the new model is for students to be productive, yet flexible. Tomczak said, “What collaboration is, is that it’s a time where we want students to have the opportunity to make choices about what they need to do – the homework they need to do; the projects they need to work on; sometimes, just taking a break from the long day.” He continued,

NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

Several juniors study and socialize in Room 124.

“Then, we’re trying to provide the structure and opportunity for them to make informed decisions on that time management, while also acknowledging that they’re going to make choices that don’t involve doing work all the time.” Junior Dominique Gradidge disagrees with the new model, saying “I liked having it [free period] before school because it gave me the opportunity to go and see teachers before school, and now that it’s later, I feel like I do less and get less accomplished because I am more tired.” She refers to a

former model where TOH was held before school when classes started around 9:30am. Senior Emma Marren shared this opinion, explaining, “I liked sophomore year [optional TOH before school] because we got to go in late.” While students may have varying opinions about the new schedule, the Administration, along with faculty and staff feedback, has worked hard to give students the opportunity to be as productive as possible while still making their own decisions during this block.

FEATURE

Class of 2023: Welcome to the sisterhood!

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ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

The Freshman Class Council includes (from left to right) Spirit Commissioner Jules Evans, Athletics Director Abbey Earnshaw, Vice-President Amelia Ailanjian, President Kassie Hickson, Activities Director Sophia Rask, and Secretary/Treasurer Abbi Edelhart. Historian Bridget Sennett is not pictured. From Page 1 Junior Class President Olivia Pera said, “I think that overall it went very well! It gave the incoming students a chance to interact with their sister class, who were running the games, and more importantly connect with their fellow classmates.” To end a week of welcome back festivities, freshmen from NDB and Mercy HS along with freshmen and sophomores from Junipero Serra HS were invited to the Freshman Dance, a Hollywood-themed event. This was a time for the Tri-School under-

classmen to meet new friends and bond. The ASB officers were excited to host the dance. ASB Vice President, Madison St. Geme, said, “I thought that it was really fun and the freshman had a really good time. The decorations turned out really good and we even got to incorporate the red theme into the day.” The Wildcats have a journey ahead of them, but they have their strong student council leaders and class coordinator that will show them the ropes and give them a sturdy foundation for their next four years.

First Sister bonds freshmen and juniors From Page 1

When asked about the survey, Tomczak said, “The questions were designed to not just look at their responses, but also the responses were placed on a gradient.” The devotion to these sister pairings that Tomczak and the junior council gave has paid off as both classes immensely enjoyed the activity and grew closer as a result of it. Junior Sofia Schnabel said, “I definitely feel closer to my sister class after this activity. I think it’s because not only did I get to socialize with my fresh-

man, but I also got to socialize with other peoples’ ‘little sisters.’” She added, “Also, because of the quizzes that we filled out, I felt like [my sister and I] had a lot of similar interests so it was easy to make connections with her and other peoples’ little sisters as well.” The activity also helped freshman become better equipped to the culture and society of NDB. “[My big sister and her friends] showed me around and helped me learn a lot more about the school,” said freshman Amelia Ailanjian. “And they told me about their

past experiences as an NDB student and gave me some good advice. I now feel a lot more comfortable as a student here.” The activity has definitely been beneficial for the short-term, but the junior class council hopes that the sister-class bonding can continue to grow and develop throughout the upcoming school year. When asked about the importance of building relationships between the classes, Junior Class President Olivia Pera said, “It’s definitely important to bond with them more on a social level than just on a spirit level. So, by doing

these [activities], we can kind of create situations where it’s easier for the freshmen to make friends with upperclassmen, and give them opportunities to become more like actual sisters.” The ice cream social has created a foundation for future relationships between the freshman and juniors and has established a bond between the two. It was a key step towards achieving what NDB is all about: Entering with friends and leaving with sisters.

Q&A with the Wildcats

Sienna Loar

Cassidy Morris

Sophia Vahabi

Zeina Zumot (left)

The Catalyst (TC): How have your first few weeks been different from your expectations?

TC: What has been your favorite activity in your school year thus far?

TC: Before coming in, what were you expecting high school to be like from media?

TC: What sets your expectations for high school?

SL: For the first day, I was really scared because it was like a ton of people but then now it’s fine. I like all my teachers, everyone here is really nice, and it’s just really calm, so it’s not as tense as I thought it would be.

CM: Probably going to cheer practice because cheer has always been my favorite thing to do.

SV: I thought it was gonna be like High School Musical. It was not, but you know, I still really like it.

TC: What is your what class are you most excited for? And why?

TC: How was your experience at your first rally?

CM: Sculpture, because I’m just excited for the whole experience. And I just love the class and the teacher.

SV: I thought it was really fun; I got to participate in something. It was the spaghetti taco run... it was so fun. I enjoyed it.

TC: Which class are you most nervous about this year? And why?

TC: What are you most looking forward to? Why?

CM: Probably geometry just because it’s just an upper class.

SV: Aquacades! Because it seems really fun and I’m really excited.

TC: What is your favorite part? SL: Definitely my friends I’ve met. They are super nice and understanding and supportive. TC: What are your goals for freshman year? SL: To open myself up a little more, and become more of a leader.

Information and photos compiled by Paige Clarke, Staff Writer

ZZ: My sister because she told me how high school was, and then when I shadowed I got like a feel of how the classes were. TC: Why did you choose NDB? ZZ: I chose NDB because everyone’s like, really nice, and it’s a really good school. TC: What are you most looking forward to? Why? ZZ: I’m really excited for Aquacades and like other rallies because our first rally was really fun.

ARTS & LIFE Preview: “The Lord of the Flies”

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How to survive your first music festival

The Catalyst sat down with junior Emily Fletcher to talk about going to music festivals. Fletcher is an avid festival-goer, having been to Coachella and Outside Lands (OSL) twice and Rolling Loud (RL) once. TICKETS Buying festival tickets right away is less expensive than waiting until the last second. If you are planning on going to one, start saving early. If it sells out, some people end up not going and put them on sale on their Instagram stories, or tickets can be found on websites, such as SeatGeek or Ticketmaster. Fletcher bought her OSL ticket online right when they went on sale for around $375, which is the normal price. She says, “I bought my ticket, super-expensive.” OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIES Outfits are a very important part of any festival because it is what everyone sees on social media. But, it is always important to take the environment into account – For OSL, there is Karl the Fog. For Coachella, there is the desert. San Francisco will most likely require some sort of jacket, and the Indio Valley will need some sort of bandana to protect your face from the sand. For her OSL outfit, Fletcher says, “I had no idea what to wear. And, I was shopping for like three weeks.” She recommends Urban Outfitters and Princess Polly for the best festival attire. Some essential accessories that she highly encourages first-timers to bring are fanny packs, a portable phone charger, water, snacks, and sunglasses. MAKE-UP Make-up is a pretty important part because it needs to have a flair that regular make-up does not have. You can add glitter, false eyelashes, or even a cool eyeshadow. Fletcher says, “Glitter is very important.” Glitter is a statement that will never go out of style. GETTING READY For OSL, Fletcher went to a friend’s house around 9am to get ready with a group of friends from Aragon HS. She says that, because there are so many people at any festival, it sometimes can get kind of hectic. She mentioned you should go with a big group of people. She says, “It’s also super fun if you go with people who will protect you.”

GETTING THERE AND BACK For any festival, it all depends on who you want to see and when they are performing. It is never bad to get there right at the time the concert starts. OSL starts at 12:00, so Emily took an Uber to Golden Gate Park and arrived at 2 pm. She says, “We decided to Uber all the way there. It’s very expensive. I would split the fair.” She says that taking an Uber there and back is the best way to go, and she does not recommend driving or taking the train for any festival. Information and photos compiled by Zoe Spencer, Staff Writer

by Victoria Bartels Staff Writer

Tri-school Productions introduces their fall play, “Lord of the Flies.” This is a play based on the classic novel by William Golding, which revolves around a group of young British boys who get stranded on an island after their rescue flight crashes. As everything unravels, the boys must create their own government and set of laws in order to survive and have the potential to be saved. And, although they begin to enjoy a life without parents, things begin to get hectic. In the Tri-M adaptation of Golding’s story, there are two casts completely separated by males and females. All shows follow the same essence of the original story, but are portrayed through the lens of each gender. In other words, there will be an all-male show and an all-female show, allowing the actors to view the other version of the production. The two separate casts rehearse alone, resulting in two different tellings of the same events. NDB junior, Jolie Orban, plays the role of Bella, a female version of the original character, Bill. She says, “I’m

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRI-SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS

really excited to be a part of this show. We get to make our own choices and choose different options, compared to how typically, one is told what to do.” According to Director and Head of Casting, Lawrence Long, “70 years later, with a hopefully greater understanding of the equal nature of all people, I feel that only using boys to represent society only gives us one distinct impression of modern society as a whole.” Meaning, times have changed and so have the roles and views of gender. Long goes on to explain, “For us it is less about completely chang-

ing the audience’s ideas of masculinity and femininity, but using this story to inform our artistic choices as we approach rehearsals in the hopes that the audience will leave thinking not only of the novel brought to life, but the importance of treating it as we have.” This production is great for all ages and can teach the importance of leadership, harmony, and the goals of humanity. So, if you’re looking for a family night out or a fun experience with friends, buy a ticket! Opening night is on October 25 at 5p.m. in the Serra HS theatre.

What’s new on Netflix in September by Amelia Kyle Arts & Life Editor

Each month, everybody’s favorite streaming service, Netflix, adds some exciting new movies and shows to its entertainment-filled homepage. Whether it’s a brand-new Netflix Original or the fifth season of wildly-popular cable television show, Netflix has it all – So, let’s dive in and see what they’ve added this month. The first new addition is “Superbad,” the wildly popular 2007 comedy film, starring Jonah Hill and Michael Cerra, about a group of high school boys trying to navigate their romantic endeavors. Although the movie can be a bit corny and unrealistic at times, its raunchy humor and themes definitely have some truth to them – which can easily be proven by the behavior of many modern-day teenage boys, including that of some of our very own Serra Padres. The movie would be a great pick for a movie night with your friends, but maybe not the greatest one to watch with your parents. The next program we have is the third season of MTV’s horror series “Scream,” which is very well-liked amongst teenage audiences. The series is loosely based on the

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Ava Michelle (center) stars as Jodi in “Tall Girl.”

high-grossing 1990’s thriller movies of the same title, and is the perfect balance of cheesy, scary, and enticing. So, if you’re looking for some suspense without too much thinking required, this is the program for you. Our next pick is another show to definitely watch without parental guidance: “Shameless.” In the highly anticipated ninth season, the super dysfunctional Gallagher family return for their last hoorah before the show goes off the air. How will the critically-acclaimed series come to an end? If you’re curious, then you should watch the final season of “Shameless” on Netflix. The brand-new

Netflix Original film “Tall Girl,” which premiered on the platform on September 13, follows a 6’1” teenage girl who desperately wants to fit in, find love, and not be overshadowed by her beauty-queen older sister. This movie is a must-watch for teenage girls, because not only is it a romance, but it also tackles realistic issues such as the importance of body positivity and learning to love yourself as you are. So, whether you’re looking for a heartfelt teen comedy or a skin-crawling horror series, Netflix has you covered – So, check it out as you’re not likely to be disappointed.

SPORTS

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Athletes return for the fall sports season

As the school year begins, many students are returning to a daily after school routine of tryouts, practices, games, and tournaments. The fall sports season is now in full swing, and The Catalyst sat down with a student from each of NDB’s fall sports to find out how the season has been going so far and what we can expect from the Tigers.

Cheer: Q&A with Lakin Walsh by Allyson Lawrence TC: How long have you been on the team for? LW: Since freshman year. So, four years. TC: What are your practices like? LW: We practice every Monday and Wednesday for two hours and on Thursdays for an hour and a half for football games and basketball games. TC: What are the Serra HS football games like? LW: Serra football games are really fun. They’re my favorite things to cheer for, and homecoming is super fun, too, because it’s the only night game they have. And, we perform at halftime. TC: How did the Levi Stadium game go? LW: The Levi’s game was really fun. It took extra preparation, and we had to add on to extra practices for halftime and stunts.

Golf: Q&A with Elizabeth Mendoza by Caroline McCoy

Cross Country: Q&A with Lizzie McGuire by Parker Daley TC: How do you feel about the season? EM: I’m actually really excited about this season because we got a new coach, and she’s been doing a lot harder workouts. We’re doing weekend long runs together and different stuff like that. TC: How has it been having a new coach? EM: Yeah, it’s definitely different having a new coach, and I think people definitely miss Mike. But, other than that, she’s a really good coach. TC: What is your goal for the season? EM: “Yeah, definitely CCS. And then, I mean, State is a little bit of a reach right now, but CCS. TC: What is your favorite part of cross country? EM: I hate meets. It’s literally just like practices that are fun. I just like the workout.

Pom: Q&A with Isabelle Collins by Mia Herstadt

TC: Why do you play golf? EM: Well, honestly, when I started off, my dad... gave me a set of lessons. I didn’t think I was going to like it, to be honest. But, I really do. And, it’s kind of like bonding time with him.

TC: How do you feel that this is your last year of doing the sport at NDB? IC: I’m really sad... I’ve made so many memories and... I had so many amazing experiences. I’m really sad to let them all go.

TC: How do you feel about the season? EM: Oh, I’m really excited actually. We just had our first match, and it was actually a tri-match, which is kind of rare... It was fun, but I’m excited. We have a strong team this year.

TC: Why did you try out? IC: As an incoming freshman, I decided to try out for Pom because I had been doing classical ballet since I was three... And, I knew I really want to be involved in a team on school... and I thought it would be a great way to meet people because I didn’t know anyone coming into NDB.

TC: What is your greatest strength? EM: Well, this year I am captain, and I’ve actually really enjoyed leading the group and help the freshman adjust because I know that high school is a big adjustment, but o having to play a sport right off the bat is also a big adjustment.

Tennis: Q&A with Casey Peterson by Kaitlyn Lopez TC: When did you start playing tennis? CP: I started playing [when] I was five years old, and I have been playing it on and off ever since. TC: Who influenced you to start playing the sport? CP: My parents were a big influence for me to get started on playing tennis because they both played when they were younger. I always played with them at the court right across the street from my house. TC: What are your hopes for the team this season? CP: I hope that we bond as a team and win as many games as we can. I also hope for all the players to become closer to each other. TC: What do you hope for the new players? CP: I hope that everybody just plays their best.

TC: How did it feel performing at Levi’s Stadium? IC: Performing at Levi’s was such a cool experience. There was such an electric vibe because the players were aware of the high stakes.

Volleyball: Q&A with Shea Hanson by Paige Clarke TC: How many seasons have you played varsity? SH: This is my second year on varsity. TC: What are your goals for this season? SH: I want to be CCS champs again and hopefully go farther than we did last year to make it through the first and second round of Norcal finals. TC: What is your team doing to prepare for CCS? SH: We are preparing for CCS by working on team bonding and making sure we have strong team chemistry going into league. TC: Are you looking forward to the fall volleyball season and certain events? SH: I am really excited for the Dig Pink game because we get such a huge crowd out every year to support such a great cause.

Water Polo: Q&A with Abigail Earnshaw by Victoria Giomi TC: How long have you been playing water polo? AE: Since the beginning of school. How long is that? Like a month? TC: What inspired you to play water polo? AE: Well, I stopped playing softball, and I wanted to try something different. TC: What game are you looking forward to this season? AE: The Mercy game

PHOTOS: NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

TC: How has your transition into high school been affected by playing a sport? AE: It’s been hard because of the homework load and being tired from water polo. It’s okay. I’m just practicing every day. It’s hard to stay on top of your work.

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

NEWS

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Q&A with TED Talk speaker Victoria Garrick Have you ever given your speech to a co-ed audience? If so, does that change what you share?

Yes, I have spoken to a high school the same size [as NDB] that was... boys and girls. I definitely alter some of my content to be more relatable for guys. I do think guys also struggle with body image and self-worth. So... I incorporate examples of Shawn Mendes or something... that they can relate to. Do you think somebody needs to go through an experience like yours in order to really understand the effects of social media? I feel like all people can relate to social media being a highlight reel and perfect images. I think I obviously

was someone that was obsessed with it. So, I think that level of caring about social media is something you experience. But, I think, in this day and age, we all know about the highlight reel, we all know people who experience pressure from social media. Do you think your life would have turned out differently if you attended a school that was on another level compared to USC?

I don’t even know where I would be today without my experiences at USC. Frequently, people will say like, “Do you wish you could go back and go on a different team or go back and avoid the mental health aspects that I battled?” But, I don’t because, if I didn’t go to USC, I wouldn’t have experienced what I had. I wouldn’t have met the psychologist who helped me. USC gave me the platform to speak on a TED Talk stage. USC provided me with all these amazing resources... I am so grateful that I was a Trojan. How do you deal with guys, dating, and relationships? When it comes to relationships, I think I definitely was seeking validation. Like, if

Alumna Kelly McDonald comes home by Paige Clarke Staff Writer

If you go upstairs to Room 210, you will see a new face in this office: Kelly McDonald, the new Admissions Associate. She has a variety of responsibilities, including visiting middle schools, scheduling shadow visits, and helping applicants. Although she is new to the staff, this is not McDonald’s first time on-campus. She graduated from NDB in 2009, which has helped ease her transition to the position, knowing her former home. McDonald says, “I love seeing that there’s still a huge amount of NDB pride and excitement around athletics and events like Aquacades and the Ding Bat Day rally. Those events made up a lot of my favorite memories from over 10 years ago.” Commenting on how things have changed since she has graduated,

she says, “I also think the amount of freedom that the school gives to you girls is amazing. From the uniform changes, to collaboration and the amount of electives and tri school classes offered - you all really have the power to tailor your experience to exactly what you want out of it. ” McDonald is also NDB’s new varsity softball coach. She is looking forward to the upcoming season and is very passionate about coaching and how it impacts players. She has been playing softball since she was eight years old. She played for NDB’s team which won CCS twice and appeared at WCAL. She also played for UC Santa Barbara’s team. She now coaches a local travel softball team. M c D o n a l d worked in a different environment just before coming back to NDB. For the past six years, she worked with the Oakland Raiders in sales, entertainment and

guys were liking my pictures, if the guys were the ones to approach me at a party versus another girl. I can remember times where I went out, thinking I looked really cute, and I felt like no guys gave me attention. And, that was something that... either validated me looking cute that night or it didn’t. So, I really sought that out from a guy. I thought a guy would complete me. I was a hopeless romantic. And, I always thought, I’m going to find my Prince Charming. I’m going to find... my husband, and my life can be perfect. I found that guy. He’s great. But, I was still depressed... I remember hysterically crying about something that was happening in my life. And, I literally remember having the thought, “How could I... feel like this when I have [my boyfriend] Max? Because I found the guy, I should be fine. That’s what we learned from fairy tales. You meet the guy and... [then] the happy ending. I realized... nobody is going to complete me, but myself. That was a great revelation I had. No matter what person it is: Your mom, a boyfriend, a future husband, girlfriend, a coach. They are not going to fix my situation. I’m the only one that can can complete myself and fix what’s happening.

A day in the life of a Tiger

Just some of NDB’s academic, extracurricular, and personal events that happened during the past month

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Juniors Kate Xie and Leyla Zhang look for examples of witchcraft from the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller for an essay during their English III class.

NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

marketing departments. Comparing the two workplaces, she says, “Being in the professional football league, the corporate environment of who I’m working alongside is 10 times different because

it’s a very male-dominated industry. And coming here where it’s all about female empowerment and working with kids and this next generation of women is more of a fulfilling and empowering role.” PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBATHLETICS

Sophomore Renee D’Arcangelis and juniors Kaelin Hughes and Tori Judy support Kristen Carpio during a spirit squad practice to cheer for Serra HS at Levi Stadium.

Visit TheNDBCatalyst.com and follow @TheNDBCatalyst ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Juniors Julia Roche, Kylie O’Donoghue, Andrea Aquino, and Ashlie Edison show off their red and purple sister class spirit on their way out of the first rally of the school year.