The Catalyst, Volume 6, Issue 4: January/February 2020

OPINION | Page 4 KOBE: OUR “WHERE WERE YOU?” MOMENT

the

ARTS & LIFE | Page 8

SPORTS | Page 10

CATALYST GOING VIRAL WITH NDB’S RISING TIKTOK STAR

BASKETBALL & SOCCER: TIME FOR A CATFIGHT

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 4

www.TheNDBCatalyst.com

Varsity Mock Trial team heads to county playoffs for first time

January/February 2020

Valentine’s Day at NDB: Celebrating friendships and relationships

by Amelia Kyle Managing Editor

After a two hour long trial against Hillsdale HS on Thursday night, the Varsity defense team finished its last competition of the regular season, placing second in the south San Mateo County area.

by Caroline McCoy and Amelia Kyle Staff Writers

After extensive preparation and hard work, the Mock Trial team has successfully completed their first three regular-season trials against other teams in the southern region of San Mateo County. After facing fierce competition like Crystal Springs, Carlmont, Serra and Hillsdale, the Varsity team is now moving on to make history as the first NDB Mock Trial team to move onto the regional semi-finals after finishing the regular season in second place.

Along with a successful run from the Varsity team, the Junior Varsity team worked incredibly hard to dominate the courtroom and end the season with a third place finish.

While they were just one spot away from moving onto the JV championships, their work was still incredibly impressive and did a fantastic job representing our school in this competition. This is the first year where both NDB Varsity and JV Mock Trial have finished in the top three places within their respective divisions.

The Mock Trial team is organized by Varsity and JV, with Defense, Prosecution, and Pre-trial roles for the students to fill. The goal for the students participating in Mock Trial is to hone their public speaking skills, learn how a trial works, and work on their argumentative and analytical skills by dissecting the case.

Each year, the cases switch between civil and criminal, and this year’s case revolves around the fictional murder of Taylor Matsumoto, the leader of Parents Against Autonomous Driving, an organization specifically designed to speak out against the dangers of autonomous vehicles.

The defendant (or alleged murderer)

Team co-adviser Jonathan Tomczak (second from right) looks skeptically at a worried student attorney waiting to head into the courtroom for trial.

Back in the classroom, team captain Abiya Baquai (center) discusses their strategy against Half Moon Bay HS for their first county playoff.

PHOTOS: THE EDITORIAL STAFF

“The top three [schools] in Varsity are the same top three in JV. That shows that our program belongs with these programs. That shows where we are moving and who we are. And, now we take the next step.” – Mock Trial CoAdviser Adam Currier

in this case is Bailey Matsumoto, a woman who put her life savings into starting a company producing autonomous technologies, and also just so happened to be Taylor’s wife.

Senior Annika Pajarillo has been a member for four years now and is reflective on her experience over her high school years. She is a trial attorney, which has been her role every year.

“I’m feeling a lot better than I have in the past three years,” Pajarillo said. “And it’s really reassuring me because it’s going to be my last year.”

Senior Elizabeth Mendoza is also a long-time member of the team See MOCK TRIAL | Page 3

Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday that is celebrated by people around the globe everywhere. People in relationships, young and old, spend the day giving special attention to their significant others and treat it like a second anniversary of sorts. Couples usually celebrate by going out to romantic meals, giving each other gifts, and simply just spending time together.

Believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is not just for couples. People who are not in relationships can still take advantage of all the

excitement that the “day of love” has to offer! Singles can celebrate by exchanging gifts or going to a movie with friends, eating dinner with their family, or just by enjoying some time alone.

“Growing up, I viewed [Valentine’s Day] as a time for couples to appreciate each other through nice gestures such as chocolates and other gifts. Now, I view it more of a celebration of love, in general: Love for oneself, love for your family, and love for the relationships that bring joy to your life,” junior Lucie Nash said.

See VALENTINE’S | Page 7

Behind the scenes: ASB prepares for Aquacades

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABBY ALGER

The Gators show off their class spirit at last year’s Aquacades. But, are they ready for this year?

by Annalee Wolfe Staff Writer

With spring break a little bit later this year, Aquacades is now just around the corner since it has been moved up to the night of Friday, March 20 With this year’s theme being Citycades, be prepared to experience a range of very different styles, from the Big Apple of New York City to the City by the Bay itself of San Francisco as well as the colorful flavor of New Orleans and the southern culture of Nashville.

To get in the spir-

it, Associate Student Body (ASB) started preparing last November with the hope of making this year’s event more unique in comparison to previous years.

ASB is in charge of organizing and keeping all of the classes in order for the different backdrops, events, music, and other logistics.

One of ABS’s biggest responsibilities, both figuratively and literally, is the backdrop that hangs from the roof down the exterior wall of the small gym on both parent and student nights. This 19 x 22 foot See AQUACADES | Page 12

NEWS

page 2

News in brief: What’s happening in the NDB community

Community welcomes the Year of the Rat Emma Tsui Staff Writer

NATALIE BEIER / PHOTO EDITOR

Students learn how to make paper lanterns.

On Monday, January 27, the NDB community celebrated Chinese New Year with an extended lunch for a special menu and activities and games. The event is an annual NDB tradition sponsored by the Chinese Knot Club.

Lunch included Chinese dishes, such as sweet and sour pork, chow mein, and rice, all cooked and served

by Epicurean Group.

Activities and games included calligraphy, knot making, and paper lanterns in the Innovation lab and badminton in the Small Gym.

The Chinese Knot Club organized the event’s menu, activities, and games. Planning for the event began at the end of last semester. They brainstormed activities, including some from last year’s celebration, as well as met with Epicurean’s chefs to discuss which dishes to prepare.

The food items were selected based on popular dishes from previous years.

“[My hope] for this year’s event is that as many people as possible come and enjoy the activities and lunch,” junior and Chinese Knot Club President Aletta Chen said.

Juniors to celebrate the new Roaring 2020s

by Kaitlyn Lopez Staff Writer

On Thursday evening, the junior class will christen the new Roaring Twenties with the Gatsby Ball. The

Dining Room will be converted into a ballroom with dinner, live music, and dancing for the class to celebrate its studies of “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The event is an annual NDB tradition for juniors to create and present projects about the book’s 1920s setting.

This year’s projects include a retelling of the novel through social media video posts and a 1920s dance performance and fashion show. There will also be an art display and poetry reading.

A new project is the “speakeasy,” serving root beer and snacks and playing games. Students will have to find out where it is and know the password to get in.

There will be a 1920s-inspired menu served by Epicurean Group and live music performed by San Francisco-based musical group, Stompy Jones.

Everyone who attends is encouraged to dress up in the hair, make-up, and dress styles of the 1920s. There

PHOTO COURTESY OF NDB COMMUNICATIONS

Flappers strike a pose at last year’s Gatsby Ball.

will be a contest with prizes for Best Make-Up and Hair, Best Dressed, and Best Overall.

“I bought a dress from a vintage dress website, a (fake) pearl necklace from Amazon, and I’m using some heels I already had. My cousin went to NDB so I borrowed her headband. I’m going to try and do my hair in a 1920s style and the same for makeup,” junior Sarah Simmonds said. “I’m excited for the Gatsby Ball because I think it’ll be really fun to wear a 1920s dress and present our Gatsby projects.”

The first Gatsby Ball was held in 2002. It was coordinated by then English Department Chair, now Athletic Director Jason Levine.

Sister classes go to battle for Dollar Wars

by Victoria Giomi News Editor

During the past two weeks, the Hallmarks in Action board escalated its annual Penny Wars into Dollar Wars. The “battlefield” was the bulletin board located outside of the reflection space where students dropped off paper bills into four plastic containers. The “war” is a NDB tradition to get sister classes involved in a friendly competition and raise money for an important cause.

This year included a change from coins to bills.

For every one dollar bill placed in its plastic container, the class receives one point. For every five, ten, and twenty dollar bill, the class loses five, ten, and twenty points, respectively.

At various points throughout the war, some classes had a positive amount of points, while others had a negative number of points.

The fundraiser is held in memory of environmental activist, Sister Dorothy Stang, a Sister of Notre Dame who was martyred in Brazil. On her way to a community meeting to speak about rights for the Amazon, she was stopped by two men who asked her if she had any weapons. She told them her only weapon was her bible and read the Beatitudes to them. They shot and killed her.

“This year is the fifteen year anniversary of Sister Dorothy Stang’s death. She was extremely dedicated to environmental justice in the Amazon rainforest. The Dollar Wars is raising money for the victims in recent fires in Australia and the Amazon to honor her,” Spiritual Life Department Chair Ynez Manalo said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YNEZ MANALO

A senior drops off a five dollar bill for the juniors.

Q&A with Epicurean chef Sven Dickinson How did you become interested in cooking?

When we were kids and the Food Network came out, my little brother started watching Iron Chef, and that’s when my interest in cooking started.

I love the creativity, pursuit of knowledge, and confidence of the job. I get to express myself and put a little piece of myself on every plate.

As chefs, we’re constantly learning. Even if you’ve cooked something a thousand times, someone out there can show you a new and interesting way to cook it.

I feel confident knowing I can go anywhere in the world and, as long as I have my knife bag, I’ll have a job in less than three days. I now only apply for jobs that I really want because I always get them. I was very smart with my career and always took steps forward. I never settled and always went for the challenge. My choices

are all reflected in my resume and skill set. Either one of which easily gets me hired.

What is your inspiration? How and where do you get your ideas for dishes?

I do a lot of research on each item.

There is an awesome book called “The Flavor Bible.” It lists ingredients like a dictionary, from A-Z. If you look up a spice, it will tell you everything that goes with it and what goes badly with it.

I also have some Michelin star experience and always try to do a classic dish with some sort of modern twist for you guys.

What goes into planning the menu for the NDB community?

So, there are standard food items that Epicurean provides. We always provide a salad bar, a vegan dish, a healthier option, a main course, a soup, and a sandwich bar.

But, I do a lot of research for the menus. I’ve been trying a theme lately: “Around the World in 20 days.”

We have 20 menus that are provided each month. I try to give, not only Italian or Mexican, but new places like Korea.

I try to compliment the food in every way. For instance, if it is a Med-

iterannean day, there might be a Greek salad for the salad bar and then lemon chicken soup. So, whether you are eating a gyro with a traditional Greek moussaka, you’re getting something Greek in every single item.

You recently worked on serving a different dish during every lunch in January to the NDB community. How do you balance the old meals that students love with new ones that they might be hesitant to try?

Well, when I first got here, I noticed that we were doing a lot of repeat stuff. There’s chicken so many days a week. It was the same menu: Mexican, Italian, chicken, and grilled cheese, over and over.

What really hit me was, one day on a Friday, I did grilled cheese and then something got slipped up and I did grilled cheese again on Monday. You guys were really mad, and I got so many complaints that it made me think, “Oh, wow!”

I vowed to make the menu different every day as long as I could possibly do it.

Every menu that we’ve had [since] then, through December, January, February, and March may have similar components, but it will be a new menu that I have never done here before, even though I’m relatively new. That way, there is more variety for us.

NEWS page 3 New grading scale raises most students’ grades Mock trial: Playoffs

by Kaityn Lopez Staff Writer

This past December, NDB implemented a new grading scale. Many students were in shock after the sudden change only one week before the fall semester finals.

The school’s previous grading scale had A’s ranging from 94 to 100%, but in the new system, A’s range only from 92.5% to 97.49%.

Although the percentages to earn an A is different, there is a new addition to the policy in which students can now earn A+ ‘s. In order to obtain that letter grade, students must have a 97.5% to 100% in a class.

Many students are satisfied that their grades that have changed from A-’s to A’s, and it is even better that an 89.5% now counts as an A-.

There have been frustrating occurences in the past where students have had a very close 89% in their class, but were not able to have their grade rounded up to an A-. With the new grading policy, students will no longer face these complications.

“I think it’s positive because, if you look at area schools, this is more consistent,” Associate

From MOCK TRIAL | Page 1

NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST

Some students constantly check their grades on PowerSchool.

Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction Linda Kern said.

“That’s important because Notre Dame girls would now be getting the same letter grade for the same numerical score.

I also think it’s more important because that lower letter grade can make a big difference in the UC admissions process because the UC system doesn’t look at the pluses and minuses,” Kern added.

“I think it’s a positive thing for students to have an opportunity to get that higher grade, especial-

ly when applying for colleges,” Academic Counselor Allan Gargaritano said.

“For those students who are in between and almost at that next letter level, it provides them an easier way to get more points towards their GPA.”

The new grading scale has allowed students to have more cushion for their work, which was extremely beneficial for going into that finals week.

The new policy has given a sense of relief for students because they do not have to worry about their grades being borderline.

“Well, when they first came into effect, my grades were all in the middle. So like, my grades didn’t really change,” junior Mia Soracco said. “But now, it’s kind of starting to change my grades. I do like that the A- ‘s end at 89.5%.

That’s always nicer.”

Coming home with a report card full of straight A’s is a dream come true for each student and their parents. The new adjustment has helped benefit students by earning higher grades earning many positive reactions amongst the faculty and students.

Growing up Catholic: A reflection for Catholic Schools Week

by Kaitlyn Lopez Staff Writer

Junior Mia Soracco identifies as a Catholic.

She goes to mass with her mom every month and every holiday. She prays before eating meals. She feels very much at home when her family participates in religious activities, ranging from mass, community service, and more at her old school, Saints Peter and Paul in San Francisco.

Her parents were a big influence on her road to becoming Catholic.

“I didn’t have much of a choice in becoming a Catholic. I was baptized when I was three months old... so the decision to be a Catholic was made by my parents,” Soracco said.

During her interview with the Catalyst, she reminisced on her experiences going through several important religious events with her elementary school classmates. Her most meaningful ones are receiving her First Holy Communion and getting confirmed by Bishop Bill Justice.

“Reconciliation was an interesting event,” she added.

Her first Recon-

and plays the defendant, Bailey Matsumoto, in this year’s case.

“We’ve been working all season since the beginning of October,” Mendoza said. “We’ve had a lot of time to get the case.

Our witnesses have been working with their attorneys very closely.”

Mock Trial meets twice a week for two hours and requires outside dedication from members to ensure that they are prepared for their upcoming trials.

The trials are about two hours long and take place at the Superior Court of California in Redwood City.

The team is led by two coaches, English teacher Adam Currier and Social Sciences teacher Jonathan Tomczak. Their role is to guide the preparation of the case and help the students structure their time while allowing them to take the brunt of the responsibility for themselves. Their practices are structured with one-on-one time between team members and are supplemented with scrimmages from other schools.

Currier has been the coach for six years and is very excited with the promise of this year’s competition season. “Preparation has been going well.

We have a very stable roster this year, which has been nice,” he said. “Not a lot of movement in terms of losing people.”

Tomczak is in his second year of coaching the team and his first time handling a criminal case with the team at NDB.

“It’s a more interesting case for the students,” he said. “It has more interesting issues for us. So, it’s a really good case that deals with a lot of current relevant issues.”

Something different about the 2019-2020 mock trial season is the implementation of they/ them pronouns for one of the characters. Currier felt that this new addition to the case packet was very supportive for members of the community who are non-binary or otherwise do not use her/him pronouns.

“They’ve purposely built in using ‘they’ and ‘them’ as pronouns,” he said, “And, looking for ways to be even more non-binary and their representation which I think shows great support for everyone who wants to be involved with mock trial.”

The 2019-2020 Mock Trial Team has done much to make our school proud, and we wish them the best of luck as they head into the playoffs.

Should students be required to attend school masses?

“It should be an option because not everybody is Catholic. So, if they don’t feel comfortable going to mass [and] receiving the Holy Sacrament, then they don’t need to. They can go up with their arms crossed to just receive a blessing.”

– Alisia Bergholm, Assistant Dean “Attending mass should be mandatory because we go to this school and that’s part of the deal when attending. But, I think that students have the opportunity not to eat the Body of Christ...”

– Avery McGlinchey, Senior

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIA SORACCO

Mia (second from left) stands with Bishop Bill Justice and her family after she received the sacrament of Confirmation

ciliation took place in the school gym, rather than a church. It was a different atmosphere and an unusual experience for her since the school used blue karate mats as dividers for each student to talk with the priests. She says she enjoyed talking to the priest because it helped reconciliation feel more personal.

Even before she came to NDB, Soracco was sure of being Catholic. She says she has never ques-

tioned her religion because she never had a reason to question it. She says she has full faith in God with assurance of his guidance.

“I feel like I already had my religious identity discovered before I came to NDB. NDB hasn’t really helped me figure it out, but that’s just because I had it discovered from my old school,” she said.

Soracco and her family recently participated in Catholic Schools Week

activities there.

Attending Catholic school for her entire life has helped her understand her religious identity.

Soracco said, “Going to a Catholic school, I feel like you get a better education than going to a public school.”

By being part of the NDB community and continuing to stay in touch with her old school, Soracco has discovered her true Catholic identity.

“Students should have an option because we all have different beliefs here. Not everyone’s Catholic, even though we go to Catholic school. I think they should have a study hall with the teachers that don’t practice Catholicism.”

– Alaiyah San Juan, Junior “Although I’m not Catholic, I think it still should stay mandatory because this is a Catholic school.”

– Rachel Shanley, Ed.D., Dean Compiled by Ally Lawrence, Staff Writer

OPINION

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The death of Kobe Bryant:

Our generation’s “Where were you?” moment

It was around 11:30 in the morning on Sunday, January 26 when I first heard about the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant. I was sitting at the nail salon with two of my friends. One was scrolling through social media when she read the news and immediately turned to tell us.

I picked up my phone, scrolled through my Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, and saw the same thing posted everywhere.

I then texted my family and told them.

First, they responded in shock. Then, we all started to share the theories we had heard about the accident.

Possibly about thirty minutes later, I looked up and the sports channel on the

TV in that salon took a hiatus from a Superbowl story to make a “special report” on the accident.

In the hours and days following, more details were released. These came with grief, mourning, and sadness from fans.

Kobe Bryant was a basketball icon, one of the best. Because of this, many knew who he was and what he stood for. Many worked to emulate his skills on the court. So, when he suddenly died, this connection that a lot of people felt with him, was tested. And they were left feeling shattered.

All of this, the stories and videos I have seen on the media have made me ask myself, “Is this going to be my generation’s defining death?” Each

generation has at least one famous event that resonates so deeply with people that they can remember where they were on that day in the years to come.

Will future generations ask us where we were when Kobe Bryant died just as we asked former generations about their idols?

When US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or JFK, was assassinated, my grandma was 15 years old.

She had been excused to go to the bathroom at her private Catholic school in San Francisco and was washing her hands when an announcement started.

She remembers looking at herself in the bathroom mirror and crying immediately. She was caught completely off

guard and walked silently back to her classroom, where they were later dismissed.

NDB Student Services Coordinator Barbara Tauskey remembers sitting at a bar talking to a friend who happened to be the bartender when the TV’s volume was suddenly turned up. Everyone came and huddled around the bar to watch as the TV announced that former Beatle John Lennon was being rushed to the hospital after being shot. Shortly after, it was stated that he had passed.

My parents distinctly remember what was happening when the space shuttle Challenger took off and then blew up. They were both watching in their classrooms. They were

high school freshmen, and their teachers were excited to watch it because one of the astronauts was a high school social studies teacher, Christa McAuliffe. They sat in awe as it took off and then in horror when the disaster occurred.

My millennial cousins were getting ready for school when their TV was suddenly taken over by the news of the 9/11 terrorist attack. One of them, a sixth-grader at the time, remembers her dad had the TV on and started shouting, so she ran into the room. He was in shock, repeating that terrorists had done it.

And then, they watched the south tower of the World Trade Center get hit by a plane. She remembers being confused because she had

Story by Caiti Earnshaw; Photo courtesy of Flckr Creative Commons / Luke Harold

no idea what a terrorist was, thought her dad meant tourists and didn’t understand why tourists would do that.

Then, she and her brother went to school and learned more about what a terrorist was before school was canceled for the day, and they went back home.

These events, the deaths of famous icons, sit with people.

They become a part of their lives, a moment never to be forgotten.

I believe Kobe Bryant’s death will be my generation’s defining death.

Of course, there may be more that come along in the future that could outweigh this one. But, I believe, in many years to follow, I will be able to tell the same story I did today when someone asks where I was.

OPINION

Intersession week should become ski week Peyton Daley Arts & Life Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Unlike most Bay Area private schools, NDB has Intersession every other year, instead of a ski week around the President’s Day three-day weekend break.

Its intent is for students to explore new subjects and take weeklong elective classes. However, a traditional ski week where students can stay home would be a better use of their time.

Intersession is unfair to students who cannot afford to participate in a school-organized away trip or whose parents are unable to take time off for

a school-approved “family trip.” Why should some students be able to spend their Intersession touring Europe with their friends or relaxing on the beach with their family, while others are at school doing a random class just to fill the time that week? Time with family and friends is valuable, no matter the location.

So, why should those who cannot go on a trip not be allowed to spend their Intersession at home with their families?

The biennial scheduling of Intersession

contributes to unnecessary lic, etc., but tours to spe- cisions have not come out. stress for students. During cific schools are best done For most seniors, going on Intersession years, teachers during junior year when a college tour in mid-Febcram or rush to complete most students have a better ruary is pointless because it their curriculum having idea of which colleges they is too late to apply, but it is one less week of classes. would like to apply to. also too soon to use the tour Although a week out of a By the time Inter- to help decide whether or year may seem not to go there. insignificant, it Idealhas a large efly, Intersession fect on the pace should occur of each course. annually, so that I n students have addition, this the flexibility of schedule favors all four years to the purple and look at colleges. red classes in

A Febterms of college ruary break is trips. Sophoimportant for more year is THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF students to deoften too early Some Intersession classes are away trips. stress and, with a to really know true break, rather what kinds of colleges one session happens again and than an Intersession, stuis interested in. Sure, these these sophomores are se- dents can fully enjoy this trips can help expose stu- niors, the majority of their time and use it productivedents to different kinds college applications have ly. of schools: Large versus already been submitted, small, private versus pub- but regular admissions de-

Bundle up, it’s cold inside Victoria Giomi News Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

NDB is known for its history, for its traditions, and for especially preparing its young women for life. But, as each generation comes and goes, the building still has the same poor heating system that it has had for nearly one hundred years.

The classroom heaters are notorious for their random temperature rises and drops throughout the day. One second, they are off. The next second, they are on. On all the way.

One second, it’s really cold.

One second, it’s really hot.

Sometimes, the heat takes a long time to travel and warm an entire classroom. Students stand near the heaters like it’s their living room fireplace.

Given the heaters themselves are bare metal in our small classrooms, it is not unusual for students to accidentally bump into or touch them and get just a little burned by them.

The classrooms windows are also notorious because they let a lot of the hot air escape and allow

cold air into the building. allowed to do so because beanies, but were not alThere is always a little gap of how “unprofessional” lowed to do that either. around the edges, letting air it looked. The school al- It really seems in and out of the building. lowed students to wear leg- like students are helpless It is a waste of when it comes energy. to staying Some warm. Yes, our teachers try to school building help their classis old. Yes, we es out with a have limited reportable heatsources. er, blowing hot B u t , air around their without a more classrooms. modern heatBut, it only ing system and goes so far. with seemingly A s every article of winter hit the clothing being Bay Area, many banned, except students tried to their uniforms, NATALIE BEIER / THE CATALYST students cope with the are cold weather by A student tries to stay warm by the heater. just left out in wearing sweats the cold. At least under their skirts and gings under their skirts, but until the summer months bringing blankets to cover they’re not enough to keep when it’s really hot and their legs at school. But, students warm. Some stu- there’s no air conditioning they were eventually not dents even started to wear to stay cool.

Finding a passion is easier said than done Caiti Earnshaw Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

According to Liz Freedman’s student study at Penn State in 2013, twenty to fifty percent of incoming college freshmen enter college without declaring a certain major because many of these students are unsure of what their passion is and what they want to pursue in life.

However, here at NDB, seniors are asked to know their passion and then, in turn, spread their knowledge on the topic and create a movement throughout the community surrounding their passion.

Seniors at NDB are 17 and 18-year old girls.

Some are lucky enough to know exactly where they are going in life, but others are too young to know their passion and too young to have connections to do what they are asked.

NDB is asking students to know what they should not have to yet. And, sometimes when they have figured out what they are passionate enough about, they are too young to be taken seriously.

Students struggle in making their mentors

understand how big this developed to help introduce all the work it requires, it project is to them. Mentors students to the real world should be a big deal. believe this project is what and help them become However, many it is supposed to be: pas- amazing individuals, ready students put all of their sionate when, in work into the reality, it is all product that just for a grade. happens to take Menup one lunch tors look at it period. as just anoth Is that er high school really enough project; they time to show do not always passion?

No, understand that but to ask of our grades deanymore is too pend on it, that much to stugraduating dedents who are pends on it. already juggling T h e a variety of difPassion Project ferent things aldiffers among PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTIGERS ready. students. Some T h i s A student presents her Passion Project. choose to focus project is made on spreading awareness to do anything for what to inspire passion, conand education, others focus they really believe in. But, nection, and change, but on physical service, and it seems a bit unrealistic. it is overwhelming, out of some on donations.

The Passion Proj- reach, and limiting.

The idea behind ect is such a big deal in the the project is good. It was NDB community, and with

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theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Parker Daley MANAGING EDITOR Amelia Kyle NEWS EDITOR Victoria Giomi OPINION EDITOR Caitlin Earnshaw ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Peyton Daley SPORTS EDITOR Paige Clarke PHOTO EDITOR Natalie Beier STAFF WRITERS Victoria Bartels Delaney Fox Mia Hernstadt Allyson Lawrence Bianca Lopez Kaitlyn Lopez Caroline McCoy Zoe Spencer Claire Tierney Emma Tsui Annalee Wolfe FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas

ABOUT THE CATALYST

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

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 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. 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: www.

TheNDBCatalyst.com Social Media / Instagram & Twitter: @TheNDBCatalyst

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FEATURE

“All you need is love...”

– John Lennon

Photos by Natalie Beier, Photo Editor

FEATURE

Single Awareness Day at NDB I heart the candy gram From VALENTINE | Page 1

“I think that Valentine’s Day has a positive connotation for me because I look at it as a day of appreciation for how love has affected your life. I think it becomes a negative connotation when people think of it as a ‘couples day,’ because then many people feel lonely. But, I think the purpose of the day is to acknowledge the love that surrounds you,” Nash added.

Valentine’s Day is not the only opportunity that singles get to celebrate themselves. A far less celebrated holiday, but nonetheless just as important, is the day after Valentine’s Day, February 15: National Single Awareness Day.

Single Awareness Day is a day specifically dedicated to single people and reassures them that being single is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. It is the perfect complement to the (almost) obnoxiously

romance-heavy Valentine’s Day of the day before.

While Single Awareness Day is a wonderful day of affirmation for singles, most people do not even know it is a holiday.

“I did not know about Single Awareness Day until this interview,” junior Cailey Murad said.

“But, I think that the concept is cool in that it celebrates those who do not have a valentine and, rather, would like to spend a day celebrating their singleness. I look forward to this day especially since I’ll get to celebrate it with my friends,” Murad added.

The day is often celebrated by singles treating themselves to dinner, buying themselves chocolate, and spending the day with friends. It is a great opportunity to get away from the often over-bearing romanticism of the previous day.

Even if a person is involved in a romantic

relationship, they can still treat themselves on Single Awareness Day. Self-care is incredibly important, and this is a fantastic day to focus on it.

Are NDB students really taking advantage of the opportunities that both Valentine’s Day and Single Awareness Day offer?

“I’m not doing anything for Valentine’s Day, but I am going to celebrate Single Awareness Day,” senior Abiya Baqai said. “My family and I are going out to dinner that night. It’ll be a great opportunity to celebrate our familial bond.”

Valentine’s Day and Single Awareness Day are both fun, exciting holidays that bring positive energy to the United States, so they should be celebrated by absolutely everyone!

Whether you are single or taken, make sure to take advantage of everything that both of these days have to offer.

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by Caiti Earnshaw, Opinion Editor

Valentine’s Day used to be a day where every little kid would bring gifts to school to hand out. They were usually something small, like a heart-shaped piece of paper with a short, impersonal message written on it. Sometimes, they’d be more “complex” with an attached piece of candy.

As those little kids grew up, physical valentines were a thing of the past, and February 14 was now reserved for those in relationships to celebrate and the singles to sulk. The physical valentines used to be something to look forward to, but now there is nothing.

Why not? Why can’t high school students celebrate the day how they have in the

THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

Candy grams come in a wide variety.

past? They can. There is a solution: candy grams.

Candy grams are a great way to spread love. However, they do not always need to cost money.

Often times, they appear similar to valentines with a nice note or a piece of candy that each student can send to individuals that they choose. They are often anonymous, but the

student who sends them can attach their name if they wish to do so.

A candy gram would give singles a reason to celebrate this holiday, a reason for them to look forward to it.

Receiving a candy gram makes you feel good, loved, and appreciated.

Sending a candy gram feels even better.

Faculty and staff share their bad first date stories...

I went on a first date with an older guy – He was a senior, I was a sophomore. And, he picked me up at my apartment. But, he said he wanted to pick me up early. He picked me up around 4:30 in the afternoon – daylight – and said he had a surprise.

So, I got dressed up for dinner. We ended up standing in line to be the first ones to get “Star Wars” tickets.

We stood in line for, like, five hours, waiting to get tickets, and we didn’t even get to see the movie because the tickets were for the next day. And so, I said I was not available the next day.

– Kari Allegri, Counseling Assistant

My worst first date... It was odd because, by today’s standards, it wouldn’t be considered weird at all. She spent the whole time on her phone. But, this was back in 2000 when people were still using flip phones. I don’t know if I can handle someone who’s going to always be on their phone and this was before everybody had cell phones.

– Jude Loeffler, Math Teacher

My first bad date was my very first date. I was in fifth grade. And, I asked my parents permission if I could ask a girl out on a dinner date. And then, my parents had to ask her parents to get it okay... And then, it was all prepared for... I was going to practice to be a grown-up and actually ask a lady on a date and dress nice, so I did...

And, everything was great.

And, the reason why it was bad is because she ordered a salad and I got hungry and I ordered ribs. Never order ribs on a date because you just look like a maniac with sauce all over you...

– George Retelas, Director of Communications

I met a fellow on a bus who seemed very nice. He was a lawyer. He worked down the street from me. I invited him to dinner on a Friday night.

We didn’t have cellphones then, so... I didn’t have any way to confirm with him. But, he did say he’d be there. I had a lovely dinner planned.

I cooked, lit the candles and waited for his arrival. He never showed. He stood me up. I then went to his office to talk with him about it. The receptionist wouldn’t let me through. So, I just thought he was an egocentric lawyer with a big jerk personality...

– Barbara Tauskey, Student Services Coordinator

Information compiled by Victoria Giomi, News Editor; Photos and visuals designed by the Catalyst Editorial Staff

If your Valentine says they love you, check your sources...

ARTS & LIFE

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Jolie Orban goes TikTok

by Ally Lawrence Staff Writer

The popular and rapidly growing new social media app TikTok has over 500 million users and counting, turning into the new “Vine.” It is mainly known for people making relatable videos or showing their talents of singing and dancing. Not only teens, but adults have been actively using this app to come together as a community by making funny and entertaining videos.

A majority of the students at NDB either use TikTok or watch it, but one user that particularly stands out is junior Jolie Orban. With 79.8K followers, Orban spoke with the Catalyst about the types of videos she creates, how she manages her time with school, as well as the promotions and brand

deals she has gotten as a result of her TikTok fame.

“Yeah, there were two brand deals I have.

One of them was with Pottery Barn Teen. I got a couple of backpacks, and they also gave me $200 for it... and then there was a necklace company that wanted me to advertise some of their necklaces, which I didn’t end up doing, but they sent me the necklaces anyways. So, that was nice,” Orban says.

A viral video of Orban redecorating her bedroom led to newer video ideas. “I usually like to make videos about zodiac signs: Kind of information on each zodiac sign and how compatible they are together, and I also like to make POV, which is very popular on TikTok, and sometimes I make jokes video,” Orban says.

POV is an acronym for “point of view,” where people make videos through the eyes of a

different character or scenario.

Orban opened up about how she manages her time with TikTok, saying she spends around three to four hours a day on the app, creating videos and watching other people’s.

“I don’t respond to my Snapchats because of this, and I think it’s become a really big part of my life,” Orban explains.

With TikTok being a creative outlet for Orban, she puts her own thoughts and ideas into every video, trying to make relatable content for her followers, and setting her career off to an outstanding start.

Orban is planning on continuing to gain more popularity on TikTok by building her platform.

After TikTok, her goal is to go into the arts and film industry.

High-end designer labels influence NDB uniforms

by Bianca Lopez and Zoe Spencer Staff Writers

The presence of high-end designer labels at NDB has started gaining popularity and is becoming more common every day. Although some may not notice, designer shoes and jewelry are a daily occurrence, even with the NDB dress code. Some may argue that designer brands are a waste of money, but others enjoy the fashion-forward items and believe that they are an investment. So, how did the need for designer items get so incorporated in NDB culture?

NDB has an everyday uniform and a special day formal uniform. It also has modified free dress days on Friday. No matter what the day is, it is evident that some students enhance their outfits with designer clothing brands.

Instead of classic slip-on Vans, some wear $700 Gucci sneakers. Instead of Herff-Jones class rings, some juniors and seniors wear $3,000 Tiffany or Cartier rings as well as thousands of dollars in necklaces and bracelets.

Girls at NDB most likely spend their money on accessories such as jewelry and shoes because of the intense influence that social media has on the environment we live in. Celebrities have a large influence on teen fashion. For example, Kylie Jenner posts pictures of herself decked out in name brand clothes with massive walk-in closets and pictures of her two-year-old daughter walking around with Louis Vuitton bags. Women like her are the role models for girls our age and they normalize wearing expensive designer clothing and accessories.

Silicon Valley is the epitome of wealth. From multi-million dollar houses to luxury cars, flaunting wealth is especially common. Girls receive thousands of dollars worth of designer clothes and accessories for Christmas and birthdays, giving off the impression that it is normal.

NDB students experience this both personally and from afar on different social media platforms. And, it is evident that designer items have more recently started gaining popularity recently.

“I didn’t notice the increase in designer accessories until last year,” senior Kate Rose Keighran said. “It wasn’t very common before then, but now, with brands like Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Off-White, it’s more visible.”

Students show off the jewelry and other high-end designer label accessories they adorn their school uniforms with.

PHOTOS: THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

ARTS & LIFE

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Reviews: Places to go, people to see, and things you should do...

Cinepolis is worth seeing

Cirque’s “Amaluna” wows

On November 22, Hillsdale Shopping Center opened a new movie theater, Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas. As the name implies, the new theater offers more comfort and extravagance than the average cinema.

It boasts of reclining seats with tables in between them, and a menu with an in-seat button activated waiter service.

The theater contains 10 screens, each with around 100 seats.

Seating in the theater provides a completely different experience than the conventional film house.

The chairs are capable of reclining nearly all the way to horizontal, and are made out of leather.

The already impressive seats have tables in between them large enough to hold sizable orders of food. Each seat has a button used to notify a waiter to take your order from a menu provided next to your seat.

The menu contains more than just popcorn – it includes restaurant quality tacos, burgers, salads, pizzas, and churros in addition to

Cirque du Soleil put on a breath-taking performance with one of their latest shows, “Amaluna.”

This January, the play visited San Francisco for the second time in its national tour.

This show was loosely based on William Shakespeare’s comedy, “The Tempest.” Prospera, a sorcerous, conjures a storm which causes a ship to crash on the island where she lives with her daughter, Miranda, and her slave, Cali. Romeo, a sailor from the ship, falls in love with Miranda, and the show follows the two as their relationship develops.

“Amaluna” was comprised of a diverse group of performances, with dancing, gymnastics bars, hand-balancing, aerial silks, and even an act balancing large palm fraun constructions on a performer’s head. The low point would definitely have to be the comedic acts, which were boring and could not compare to the spectacular gymnasts and contortionists. However, the other performances certainly made up for the weak comedic pieces. An

by Claire Sapilewski Contributing Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF @SEGEY1

The seating is nicer than your average theater. the traditional movie time snacks. In-seat service is offered starting half an hour before the movie begins and continues throughout the show.

Unfortunately, the theater’s extravagance does come with a few disadvantages. The menu’s length is impressive, but comes with the downside of incredibly expensive food. A simple pack of Starbursts or M&M’s is over $6 while a burger passes $17. The waiters are supposed to be very quiet, but their stealth-

iness does not stop other moviegoers from speaking loudly when ordering, which does get annoying during the movie. Another downside is that only debit or credit cards are accepted when purchasing food, which is a problem for teens carrying primarily cash.

Even with the drawbacks, Cinepolis Luxury theaters are definitely worth the money, especially when tickets are only a dollar more than a usual movie.

Rex Orange County packs Masonic

by Parker Daley Editor in Chief Alexander O’Connor, better known by his stage name, Rex Orange County, is a 21-year-old English recording artist with a unique sound and a rapidly growing celebrity.

The singer, musician, and songwriter from Hampshire has a large fan base in California.

This was evident from the enthusiasm of those in attendance at his sold-out concert in San Francisco, held at The Masonic and the fourth stop on his international “Pony” tour. The general admission floor was jampacked with enthusiastic teenagers and adults.

It was easy to see why the artist has such a wide audience.

His songs are emotional, have a clear narrative, and are distinctive. His sound is different from that of most alternative-pop artists. He uses a wide range of instruments in his music, but many of his songs have only piano or guitar instrumentals. One unique aspect of the concert was when a curtain went down in front of his

by Peyton Daley Arts and Life Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF @KKOHLER1129

“Amaluna” features a variety of acts. all-women live band performed music throughout the whole show.

The setting itself was amazing. The interior of the tent was decorated to resemble a tropical forest with dim lighting from leaf-like chandeliers and forest sounds playing before the start of the show.

Between the setting and the performers running through the aisles, wearing elaborate costumes and interacting with spectators, it was definitely more engaging for the audience than a

typical play or show.

Founded in 1984 in Quebec, Cirque du Soleil remains one of the largest animal-free circuses in the world, and, after seeing Amaluna, it is clear why.

“Amaluna” can be viewed at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento until February 23, with tickets ranging from $69 to $89.

“Amaluna” or any other Cirque du Soleil shows are definitely worth a visit.

Dessa makes a connection

by Caiti Earnshaw and Victoria Giomi Opinion and News Editors

PARKER DALEY / THE CATALYST

Rex Orange County’s fame continues to rise. band, and he was alone onstage with just a guitar. He was able to hold the audience’s attention with no stage set and no backup music, an impressive feat.

One of the best moments of the night was when the solo artist asked the audience to put down the phones that had been blocking audience-member’s views for the entire set. He requested that during the entire song nobody attempt to record him or take picture with an

electronic device, hoping that his fans would live in the moment and just enjoy his performance. It brought attention to how often those in attendance at a show are more focused on sharing the moment with their followers, than enjoying it for themselves.

By eliminating this issue, even if only for one song, Rex Orange County cultivated a relationship with his audience that fostered an amazing atmosphere to see live music.

On January 16, Dessa took the stage at the Chapel in San Francisco. Dessa is a singer, rapper, and writer, and a member of the indie hip hop band, Doomtree. She sang in a classical-rap fusion with breaks to express her poetry. A band named Monakr opened for her and even helped during the main set. Both artists brought an amazing feel to the audience.

They developed a special connection that went further than music. Almost everyone in the crowd, which included fans from many different walks of life, knew the songs. The crowd was receptive, conversing with her, singing along, and following the story her performance brought.

In many shows, it seems obvious that the artist is there to share their talent and work their gig.

This was not the case for Dessa. She took the stage with a purpose, a story to share and a message to spread. She told this through poetry and song.

The audience related,

THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

Dessa takes the stage at the Chapel. approving the messages in their sways back and forth and the routine clapping at the end of each song.

With this type of experience, the venue was perfect. It gave space for the audience to be receiving a “sermon-like” show in an untraditional way. The intimate venue allowed everyone’s feelings to collide and support the music. Everything about the performance seemed planned out, but at the same time spontaneous and sporadic.

The opener, Monakr, took a different role.

Some knew them and were familiar with their music, but many were experiencing their style for the first time. They were such relatable hosts. They held conversations, invited responses much like their night’s counterpart, Dessa.

Overall, this music event was an experience like no other. It was lightly political, heavily intimate, inviting, and overall inspirational and motivating.

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SPORTS

Basketball and soccer teams put up a catfight

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBATHLETICS

Senior Erica Robinson makes her way down the court at a recent game.

by Zoe Spencer and Paige Clarke Staff Writers

The NDB catfight is a tradition at NDB, when the winter sport Tigers, basketball and soccer, take on the Woodside Priory Panthers in an effort to unite the school through athletics. It has been a great tradition that happens every winter. For the basketball team, this is the biggest game all year. It has been advertised during school hours and on social media.

The big crowd that entered the Moore Pavillion was made up of NDB students, staff, families, and the opposing team’s fans. Obvious nerves were present among basketball team, but they stayed focused. For those who were not playing in the

game, it was a big spirit point even that will help to determine the class leaderboard going into Aquacades season. This game is around the start of Aquacades preparation time, all classes are highly encouraged to attend as many sporting events as they can for spirit points.

Since NDB sports teams switched to the WCAL (West Catholic Athletic League) in 2015, the basketball catfight was changed to be against Priory.

At the 2020 game, the Tigers fought hard against Priory’s Panthers, but ended losing with a score of 24-55. There was a good turn out with the spirit squad cheering for the tigers as well as much of the student body.

The game was tough, but the Tigers put up a good fight.

Several of their players were in-

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBATHLETICS

Sophomore Makena Connelly gets control of the ball at a recent match.

jured, including Alayiah San Juan, Kate Rose Keighran and Taylor McDonald, making it hard for the Tigers, but they continued to keep their heads up. Their starting point guard, Alex Salice, ended up getting hurt in the second half, but was persistent with playing.

When speaking with ASB Activities Director and basketball team player, Olivia Miller, she said her favorite part of the game is the excitement the gym atmosphere creates while she is playing.

“My favorite part of the game is how excited the bench gets when the littlest things happen. It increases the entire energy of the gym,” she said.

Miller says the game is the equivalent to volleyball’s Dig Pink game in October. She

believes the game is so hyped up because it has been a tradition for so long.

NDB’s Athletic Director, Jason Levine, says that the Catfight has been against Woodside Priory since 2015, but NDB has been playing it for much longer.

“The Catfight began in the mid 2000s by our Boosters parents as a way to get our school population together for an athletic event,” he said. The game was initially played against the Presentation Panthers at home each year for around twenty years.

The Catfight game is a two-part event, with the Varsity soccer team playing on February 11 against Priory. The catfight this year will also be doubled as the senior game, bringing extra excitement and energy to the al-

ready anticipated big game.

“I’m feeling really excited for this Catfight game. It’s going to be a tough game, but I can’t wait,” senior midfielder Sofia Damelio said about her feelings on the upcoming game.

Through training and practice, the soccer team has been mentally and physically preparing for the difficulty of the upcoming game. They have put in loads of hard work throughout the year to lead up to this huge spirit point game.

“I’m just excited to play,” Damelio said.

And, we hope the soccer team and school have this same positive energy leading into the event.

The Catalyst wishes the soccer team luck in their Catfight game.

Fair Pay to Play Act lets California college athletes get paid A high school student’s perspective on paying college athletes “Many college athletes are attending college on part or full scholarships provided by the school. If the school is already paying their tuition, they shouldn’t be required to pay the students, too.”

– Jenna Reynolds, Freshman “I do think that if schools use their students’ pictures to advertise their sports, students should get paid. I also think students should be able to make their own money off of their social media and things like that.”

– Hailey Braun, Sophomore “College athletes shouldn’t get paid as much as professional athletes, but since they are bringing lots of attention to the school and providing marketing opportunities, they should be compensated.”

– Lauren Gonsalves, Junior “College athletes are given the opportunity to play due to their ability and are sometimes given scholarships, depending on their skill and school. If these athletes were paid, money would become the motivation for them to play...”

– Kate Ragusa, Senior

by Bianca Lopez Staff Writer

A California law has recently passed stating that college athletes will be allowed to promote products and brands, earning them a monetary “salary.” However, the NCAA is completely against this saying that athletes should only receive educational money.

Participation in college athletics seems so simple to most. People think all they have to do is play the sport they love while getting their academics paid for however they are put under an immense amount of pressure without receiving recognition for their hard work. It is often the most rigorous part of their college experience, for they are required to practice every day of the week while simultaneously managing school work and a social life.

Despite the misconception that all these athletes receive full funded scholarships, many of these division one colleges do not offer athletic scholarships to all players, meaning that some athletes are paying out of pocket just to put so much work into a system that colleges are making millions from.

According to

BusinessInsider.com, the NCAA brings in $1 billion dollars annually. So should they be getting paid?

“I do [think we should be getting paid] because the majority of our time, that could be going to a part-time job is now devoted to athletics. We don’t accumulate any revenue whereas we could if we weren’t on a team,” says Allie Jones, a sophomore on Stanford’s women’s Track and Field team.

“I don’t. I think that would kind of take away from the college aspect of it,” Senior Stanford baseball player Zach Grech counters. “But, I do think we should be able to get compensated for our image.

I think the NCAA needs to kind of get off our backs a little more, let us have jobs without telling them, and stuff like that.”

Critics of college athletics believe that athletes get everything handed to them and do not have to work for their success.

However, after interviewing these athletes, it is clear that they are not given any special privileges.

“It’s not just like showing up to your sport and like not caring about school. It’s being able to balance everything and trying to do that at an elite level,” Cal baseball player

and Serra HS alum Mitchell Scott,‘18, says.

He wishes people knew how much time goes into not only playing a sport but representing the school in a positive academic light.

“I’d say [I put in] like 40 hours a week,” says Grech. 40 hours of a minimum wage job in Palo Alto could earn him around $600 dollars a week, but he is getting paid none.

“I think one of the biggest misconceptions I’ve encountered is that student-athletes get specific privileges. We definitely work very hard for everything we earn and nothing is really ever handed to us,” USD softball player and NDB alumna Madi Earnshaw, ‘18, says.

Despite the image that college athletes live a glamorous life of minimal school work and numerous extra benefits, this is not the case. Athletes are putting in an extensive amount of time to further their skills in their certain sport while balancing a beneficial education that will ensure their success in the future. So no, college athletics is not an easy way into college, college athletics is a representation of one’s hard work paying off and accomplishing one of the greatest sports achievements.

SPORTS

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Featured coach: Nicole Ambayec, NDB Class of 2008

by Paige Clarke Sports Editor

On NDB’s campus, numerous alumnae work in various classes and departments, bringing back the spirit of NDB from when they attended the school. One 2008 alumna who has worked as a part of NDB’s Spirit Squad for six years is Nicole Ambayec or Coach Nikki, as her JV competition cheerleaders call her.

Ambayec began her cheer journey when she was in seventh grade. In total, she has cheered for eleven years at various levels. While cheering at NDB, she learned the skills to drive her to success: being sharp, learning to base, and being a team player. Having previously cheered at NDB, Ambayec shares many similar memories and experiences with her athletes, specifically Nationals, a highlight of many competitive cheerleaders seasons.

“I think my favorite memory is Nationals, my senior year. It was just a really fun experience. We had a lot of great team bonding experiences and we were just really close…” Ambayec says in response to what her favorite memory from her four years of high school cheer was.

After cheering at the high school level, Ambayec continued on to cheer at the collegiate level at the University of California, San Diego from 2011 to 2013. She was able to use the skills taught to her by Coach Morgan Craig to drive her to collegiate athletic strength. She enjoyed the fun of collegiate cheer, but also recognized the difficulty in balancing 6 A.M. practices with schoolwork and classes. Ambayec recognizes that each athlete and school has different expectations and challenges, but would recommend pursuing collegiate cheer.

Ultimately, Ambayec was drawn back to coaching in July 2014 by the person who influenced her the most as an athlete: Coach Morgan Craig.

“I knew when I got asked if I wanted to come back and help Morgan Craig, the previous coach, he was my cheer coach, I couldn’t turn down that offer,” Ambayec says on why she came back to NDB’s cheer program.

Craig influenced Ambayec in more ways than just giving her the opportunity, but shaped her into who she is today by teaching her what it means to be a good coach.

“Coach Morgan really just showed me what it meant to have a team of dedicated girls, to be not only a coach, but also a friend to the girls, and know that I’m always there for them, just as Coach Morgan was always there for me,” Ambayec shares about how she was influenced by Craig.

Currently, Ambayec is coaching her JV competition cheer team, who have placed first in three competitions and second in one this season, as they prepare for the first day of Nationals on Friday, February 14.

“I think they have really made this experience worth it,” Ambayec says about how her current JV team has been the highlight of the past six years as a coach.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE AMBAYEC

Aside from coaching cheer, Ambayec is in her final year at USF’s School of Law and will take the bar exam in May. She has also worked at Stanford University as an Executive Assistant for the school’s IT program, but is now fully focused on school and coaching.

Overall, Ambayec has one piece of advice for any high school athlete: “I think that the biggest piece of advice I can give is that it may seem hard right now, but it all gets better and you just need to push through, and it’ll all be worth it.”

Sports injuries: A sports trainer and an athlete’s perspective

by Annalee Wolfe Staff Writer

On campus, there are 14 different sports offered for students to participate in. It is very common to see many students walking around the halls in a variety of slings, crutches, and casts. Along with this, there are many athletes that find themselves with a concussion in which they are forced to the bench for the length of their recovery. The Catalyst asked for advice from Coach Christina, NDB’s Athletic Trainer, about how to prevent these injuries and spoke with Alaiyah San Juan about her torn ACL injury.

Christina Okubo, Athletic Trainer

Alaiyah San Juan, Varsity Basketball

What is the recovery time for concussions?

What is your experience with sports injuries?

Every concussion that a person experiences is different. So there is, unfortunately, no “gold standard” for the recovery time after suffering a concussion like there are with other injuries.

In general, the recovery time will be determined by various factors, such as the severity of the initial trauma, if this person has a history of previous concussions, and how well this person is actively resting to become 100% symptom-free.

Current literature states that the high school population takes longer to recover from a concussion in comparison to adults because this age group has a brain that is still developing.

I have had many minor injuries in the past, including sprained ankles and concussions.

How can concussions be prevented?

There is, unfortunately, no way to prevent

What is your most recent injury?

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBATHLETICS

Athletic trainer Christina Okubo treats injured student athletes in the Moore Pavillion. a concussion from happening. There is always a risk of any injury when you participate in sports, in particular, being involved in contact and collision sports.

What is your advice for those who currently have a concussion?

My advice for any student or student-athlete who is currently suffering from a concussion would be to follow the guidelines given to you by your treat-

ing physician.

It’s important to remember that this is your brain that is healing from being injured and it takes time. Be patient, try not to rush back to activities if you are not feeling well, and follow the specific recommendations that your doctor provides you for return-to-learning in school and for return-to-play in your sport.

Most importantly, be honest about how you are feeling!

Recently, I have suffered a torn ACL back in May. I received surgery last June.

How long is the recovery process?

The recovery process depends on what the patient chooses.

The patient could return back to a sport as early as six months, but the risk of re-tearing your ACL or other ligaments increases.

So, it is encouraged to wait a full year, which is the route I’ve chosen.

What was your initial reaction when you suffered

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAYIAH SAN JUAN

Alaiyah San Juan recovers after her ACL surgery last June. your injury?

When I initially tore my ACL, I knew something was wrong, but not this severe as I could get up and walk on my own.

So, it was a shock receiving a call from the doctor saying it was torn.

Do you have any advice for athletes who are injured? For athletes on how to prevent them?

For athletes, it is

super important to take care of your body every day: continue to stretch a lot, try to work out every muscle/ body part, and know when you need a break for your body.

@TheNDBCatalyst

NEWS Behind the scenes: ASB prepares for Aquacades A day in the life of a Tiger page 12

Just some of the things that have happened to our readers over the past months...

From AQUACADES | Page 1

canvas is massive, almost the same size as a classroom wall, and requires a lot of gridding, sketching, and painting. This process took a good amount of brainstorming, and ASB Athletic Director Avery Stump designed the final product.

“The ASB backdrop is the biggest canvas I have ever seen. It is a massive tarp-like thing that is virtually impossible to sketch anything on. However, I suppose no challenge is too great to try and accomplish,” Stump said.

Not only is the backdrop a necessity, but also ASB’s seven-minute-long closing routine.

They get to choose their music before all of the classes do for their performances because they need to do a routine long enough for the alumnae judges to cast their votes and send in the results. The routine is then choreographed and practiced while using a bunch of props. For example, past years have inte-

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTIGERS

On Friday, January 10, the junior and senior classes participated in the NDB Alumnae College Panel, including members from the Class of 2017 to 2019. Each alumna spoke about her experiences in college so far and shared advice for the upperclassmen.

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Rafael Merino (top left) and his crew check if the backdrop is level. grated inflatable swans and graduation caps. Each little skit from specific genres are constantly edited to make it more clear and to integrate fun dance moves.

Although it is time consuming and a lot of work, “Aquacades is everyone’s favorite time of year, but there is so much work that goes into planning it.

We are planning big stuff for the Aquacades rally and night, so get ready,” ASB Spirit Director Angela Marie Fairman said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTIGERS

On the evening of Friday, January 10, the freshman class spent the evening in the Moore Pavilion for the Freshman Pajama Party. With Link Crew, they played games, had fun, and bonded together as a class.

Sibling rivalry heats up with Aquacades

PHOTO COURTESY OF @NDBTIGERS

On Saturday, January 25, the TigerBots hosted a NorCal qualifying tournament with 16 Bay Area robotics teams.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAITLIN EARNSHAW

Siblings at war, featuring Madi (‘18), Caiti (‘20), and Abbey (‘23)

by Caiti Earnshaw Opinion Editor

This year, I am a senior and my youngest sister, Abbey, is a freshman. I wear green, and she wears red. We are both in our class solo deck performance, which means we are competing on a personal level as well as a class-level. Before winter break, she kept asking me for help. And, I turned her down. We may be sisters at home, but not at school and certainly not when it came to Aquacades.

And then, the break came and my older sister, Madison, a Maverick from the Class of 2018, was home for winter break.

She was sitting with my younger sister, Abbey, at the counter in front of a laptop when I got home at around ten o’clock at night.

I walked in and said hi to the both of them as I poured

myself a glass of water.

Then, I heard something come from the computer – just a blurb of music. Abbey paused it so fast as her eyes shot up to me. I asked what it was.

“Oh, just music,” they both responded.

I walked around to where they were sitting to look at her computer.

Abbey was making a mix of country songs, and Madi was helping.

NDB is divided into sister classes. Blue and green are the even graduation years. Red and purple are odd. We are all sisters over the four years, but our sister classes are our “teams” for competitions.

Aquacades is the biggest event or competition of the year that NDB hosts. Sister teams matter for this.

I knew the freshman had country music this year, so I knew immediately that Abbey was making her

Aquacades mix.

Madi, a blue class member, helping Abbey, a red class member, was not only completely against all sister class rules, but so disrespectful to all blue and green class members now. I am a Gator, a proud green class student. So, watching this, I was mad.

It wasn’t long before I was providing every reason why Madi should not be helping Abbey. She was a Wildcat. She was one of “them.” The Mavericks know best that the “Blue and green dream team” needed as much help as we could get. So, what was she doing?

Madi’s excuse was, “I am just helping my sister prepare for her Aquacades routine.”

Her sister? Okay, sure, maybe by blood. But, I was sisters with her in two ways and deserved more than that. So, I kept argu-

ing. I could not believe the betrayal. Sister classes are special. They are how you win and how you get ahead.

Blue and green. Red and purple. There is no such combination of blue and red, and there shouldn’t be.

But, that night in my kitchen, there was.

Sister rivalry is a thing at school in terms of sister classes and also a thing at home, which is normally a fight for the position as the favorite.

But, for many NDB students, those two rivalries merge, especially during Aquacades season.

Just because you have the same blood, does not mean you can overlook your class color and your sister’s class responsibilities. Fight fairly, but hard for you and yours. And, whatever you do, do not be a Maverick and stray from your colors.

THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

Last week, an English II Honors classes went on a photo walk around the NDB and NDNU campuses to stage and photograph scenes from the novel “Tess of the D’Urbervilles.” They turned their work into photo essays based on the novel’s themes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAISY VILLANUEVA

On Monday, February 10, the I Am Diverse Club posted its Black History Month bulletin board with information about the notable Black men and women throughout American history as well as information about allyship and intersectionality.