The Catalyst, Volume 8, Issue 2: October 2021

FEATURE | Page 5 HALLOWEEN SPIRIT WEEK AND ACTIVITIES

OPINION | Page 3 MENTAL HEALTH STILL MATTERS

www.TheNDBCatalyst.com

Volume 8, Issue 2

the

SPORTS | Page 7 FALL SPORTS PLAY IN SENIOR GAMES

CATALYST

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

@theNDBCatalyst

1540 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002

October 2021

NDB launches DEI: Dig Pink volleyball games raise Together We Thrive awareness for breast cancer research

by Peyton Daley Editor in Chief

On Wednesday, October 6, NDB hosted its first session of the yearlong Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) program over Zoom. The event featured keynote speaker Sister Teresa Weind of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, as well as speeches from NDB Board member Rod Donaville and I Am Diverse club leaders Karla Aguilar and Ryan Edwards.

The night started off with a prayer centered around the gift of diversity read by Director of Mission and Ministry Amy Jobin. Head of School Linda Kern then introduced the speakers of the night and explained the DEI program to viewers. The DEI series was inspired by the NDB Hallmarks and was developed by the school’s Anti-Racism Task Force last year.

“We wanted to build something into the structure of the school’s life that would ensure that it was happening throughout the year at several predefined moments, and also

would recur annually,” Kern said. “So, something that would really be baked into the curriculum, and that is what we’ve created.”

Aguilar and Edwards spoke about their experiences with racism and their work as I Am Diverse leaders and student members of the Anti-Racism Task Force.

“As a first generation Latina, it has been a powerful experience to serve on a task force that includes other students and adults who are people of color. So often have I found it the case that I’m one of the only people of color within a group, which, you know, has sometimes left me feeling afraid and unsure of the validity of my experiences,” Aguilar stated. “I think that, in contrast, it has been extremely rewarding to be in conversation with this task force, a group that I know will listen to and value and respect my opinions.”

“My hope for this experience and program is that it sparks an interest for change in our younger See DEI| Page 2

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Sophomores Julia Breckenridge (left) and Karly Bordin play in their first Dig Pink game.

by Kayla Messick and Peyton Daley The Catalyst Staff

This year’s Dig Pink volleyball games were played on October 19 between NDB’s freshman, JV, and varsity teams and Sacred Heart Prep’s teams.

The annual event is held by the NDB Athletics Depart-

Link Crew hosts Link-o-ween haunted house

by Gulianna Ceschin News Editor

On October 25 during Collaboration, the Monarchs enjoyed Halloween festivities at the Link-oween event hosted by Link Crew. This event included a hospital-themed haunted house set up throughout the basement, where freshmen were free to walk through and enjoy an afternoon of fun and frights.

The haunted house this year was the first one in a while, since Link Crew was not able to put on any in-person events last year due to COVID-19. NDB was happy to continue its long tradition, but this year was slightly different than what some Tigers may remember.

“So we’ll be having a haunted house during a Collaboration period [instead of at night] for the freshmen because we didn’t want to take away the haunted house because it’s kind of a tradition for

ment to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research and to honor breast cancer patients.

The game has been a tradition at NDB since 2014, when then-freshman volleyball player Tammy Byrne asked the Athletics Department to start the event. Byrne lost her mother to breast cancer

when she was young, and wanted to dedicate a game to recognizing those struggling with the disease.

“It was a great event because it was an opportunity to get our community together to watch volleyball. We don’t have a lot of sports on campus, so this is one that is on campus and it’s a great opportunity

to get everybody together and bring awareness to breast cancer,” said Athletic Director Jason Levine.

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, so it fits perfectly with our volleyball schedule.”

Underclassmen who had never experienced See DIG PINK | Page 4

Prospective students shadow campus

by Francesca Arbelaez Sports Co-Editor

GULIANNA CESCHIN / THE CATALYST

Link Crew leaders dressed up as nurses and patients to scare freshmen in the haunted house. the freshmen, but we also didn’t want to make it on Homecoming night for Serra,” said NDB senior and Link Crew Vice President Kaila Acbay. “We wanted them to have the fun but also enjoy things outside of school, like Serra Homecoming.”

Students transformed NDB’s basement into a frightening scene full of spooky music, eerie

skits, and Link Crew members dressed up in terrifying costumes.

Freshmen were separated by homerooms and guided through the haunted house by a Link Crew tour guide who told the tale of a haunted hospital that has taken over the NDB basement. Link Crew members were all excited See LINK-O-WEEN | Page 2

Shadows are prospective students that are looking to attend school at NDB. They sit in on classes and stay with their host during lunch and breaks to see what going to this school really feels like.

Throughout their day, they will learn more about the school’s values, curriculum, and most importantly how fun it is to go to NDB.

“I think the shadows remind each of us of ourselves in eighth grade, and this creates an exciting atmosphere as we all want to welcome and share NDB to the best of our abilities to these prospective students,” said Makena Conneely, a senior and Ambassador Club leader.

“I wanted to be a leader of the Ambassador Club because I had such a positive shadow experience, and I wanted to help be a part of representing Notre Dame and giving other students

PHOTOS COURTESY OF @NDBTIGERS

Freshman Victoria Carlson (center) gives prospective students a lunchtime campus tour. an optimistic shadow experience, like I had.”

A shadow visit is like a “Day in the Life” of an NDB student, complete with a delicious lunch.

Hosts guide shadows to their classes, give them a campus tour, and introduce them to staff and other students throughout their visit.

“I love being back on campus and having in-person shadows this

year. I feel bad for all the freshmen that had to take the tours online,” said Abbey Earnshaw, a junior and seasoned shadow host at NDB. “I wanted to join the Ambassador Club to give back to my community and also to make shadows feel accepted and want to come to NDB.”

Shadows give See SHADOWS | Page 2

NEWS First “C Day” aims to reduce stress for students Shadows visit campus page 2

by Natalie Nootbaar Staff Writer

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

Sophomore Anna Ansari helps her shadow find a relative in the class photos lining the hallway.

From SHADOWS | Page 1

teachers the chance to get to know each student and start building a relationship. When a teacher knows a student’s name and knows a bit about them, the first day of high school will feel more supportive and comfortable.

“What stood out most to me when shadowing at Notre Dame was definitely the environment of having girls who support girls,” said Gia Rivera, an eighth grader from a local middle school, when asked what her favorite part of being a shadow was. “At my school, it’s all different groups and, at NDB, I didn’t feel that cliquiness. It felt like a safe place and an awesome support system.”

Shadow visits are a chance to make a first impression on prospective students who want to apply to NDB, so the community should make sure they feel welcome.

Link Crew haunts basement

On Wednesday, October 27, NDB hosted a “C day” event called Wellness Wednesday, which was meant to make time in the schedule for overall health enhancement.

The wellness program was scheduled for 9:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., which allowed students to sleep in a little more than usual during the school week and gave them enough time in the afternoon to complete homework and participate in extracurriculars without feeling overwhelmed.

In order to fully take advantage of this opportunity, Tigers had multiple options for how they could format their Wellness

Wednesday. Students could choose to attend school for the full day, come for only the morning session, come for only the afternoon session, or stay at home.

Students were invited to spend the day relaxing and taking a break from academics. The activities of the day were structured around the ideas of the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services, which stated that students should focus on eight general dimensions of wellness. These eight areas consist of emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual wellness.

The activities were created and hosted by school staff members, who provided students with var-

PHOTO COURTESY OF NDB

Wellness Wednesday offers students a chance to focus on their mental well-being. ious opportunities for self improvement. The options include beach volleyball, indoor and outdoor games, mindful coloring and quiet workspaces.

Students were encouraged to meet with their teachers or counselors so that this opportunity could help them with their schoolwork as well.

Seniors appreciat-

ed the chance to work on their college applications and collaborated with their counselors to navigate the application process.

For freshmen, this day served as an opportunity to continue working on the sculpture projects they have started in their Becoming Notre Dame classes.

NDB hosts Fund a Future Scholarship Benefit

by Gulianna Ceschin News Editor

On October 27, NDB held its annual Fund a Future Scholarship Benefit, organized by Director of Advancement Celine Curran, to raise funds for NDB’s tuition assistance program. This program gives low-income students the opportunity to attend school at NDB.

“The Fund a Future Scholarship Event is super important to me because I benefit from this scholarship,” said sophomore Francesca Arbelaez about her attendance at the fundraiser. “My mom and I decided to go and donated money to give back to the cause. All of the donations go to the tuition aid pro-

gram, which helps eligible students to get an NDB education.”

At the event, NDB welcomed two keynote speakers who are also NDB alumni: Marie Laxague Rosecrans, the GoTo-Market SVP for Salesforce, and Taj Alavi, the Global Head of Marketing for Spotify.

Rosecrans has held positions at Oracle, Peoplesoft, Evolve and Primavera. She currently leads the industry solutions, product marketing, enablement and customer marketing teams for Salesforce. Her organization delivers and promotes purpose-built solutions for nonprofits, educational institutions and philanthropies.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GULIANNA CESCHIN

Alumnae Marie Laxague Rosecrans, ‘88 and Taj Alavi, ‘94 are this year’s benefit honorees.

Alavi has experience building and leading global marketing programs with brands like Instagram, Uber, Intuit and Chime.

She joined Spotify in June of 2021 where she leads the communications, product marketing, customer lifecycle management and brand media teams.

NDB’s annual Fund a Future Scholarship Benefit was greatly appreciated by the whole NDB community as it helps students get an education without worrying about the financial aspect of enrollment.

Keynote speaker kicks off new DEI program From DEI | Page 1

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

A few costumed Link Crew “scarers” prepare to frighten a few freshmen in the haunted house.

From LINK-OWEEN | Page 1

to participate in this event and give the Monarchs an opportunity to celebrate Halloween at NDB.

Tigers were led through the hospital-gone-wrong in the basement and, in the process, they were faced with panicked doctors and escaped patients who chased them around the hallway. Students enjoyed the scary, yet fun event, and Link Crew members were all proud of their work.

“Link Crew Board and the leadership really put a lot of work into the haunted house,” said Acbay after the event. “We had a lot of fun. I would say it was a success.”

After students were able to walk through the haunted house, they enjoyed Halloween-themed treats in their homerooms provided by Link Crew.

The Link-o-ween Haunted House was a great experience for Tigers and a fun way to reintroduce the Halloween spirit into the community.

generations of Tigers, and that as it develops, it becomes a staple of Notre Dame,” Edwards added.

“Hopefully this helps the students who aren’t and will never be affected by these situations have a better understanding of how students like myself feel in a predominantly white institution.”

Weind shared stories about growing up as a Black child in a Catholic institution and facing discrimination from peers, teachers, and administrators. She attended St. Dominic School in Benicia, California for elementary school. There she was taught by Sister Robert Miriam in fourth grade, who frequently discrim-

inated against the Black children in her class.

“I received severe and dehumanizing treatment for minor misbehavior that barely raised Sisters’ eyebrows when that same misbehavior came from Italian children,” she explained. “I got accused of things that I didn’t do…

One day, Sister Robert Miriam came and got me out of my desk seat and brought me up to the trash can next to her desk and put me in the trash can, and she said ‘All you are is trash, so stay there for the whole day.’”

Weind continued to face racism throughout the rest of her education and into her adult life. When she decided to join a congregation, she was rejected from many groups who did not accept Black women.

SCREENSHOT FROM THE EVENT

The first DEI event was hosted virtually and open to the whole NDB community.

At the time, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur had a quota of only admitting two Black people at a time, and so she was not able to join the congregation. She began her religious work at the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation in Illinois and worked with them for ten

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years. In 1973, she transferred to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, where she is currently the congregational leader.

Weind’s stories highlight the importance of anti-racist education and building diverse communities.

OPINION

Back on campus, student mental health still matters Molly Phan Opinion Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

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theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWS

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Peyton Daley

MANAGING EDITOR Clair Sapilewski

During the dreadful nearly two years that we spent in quarantine, one of the biggest concerns among the whole nation was mental health, especially in students.

With online distance learning, students were not able to work collaboratively with our peers or seek the help we needed from teachers to the same extent as in-person learning, making it harder to succeed academically. This all took a significant toll on our mental health.

Students were not just experiencing hardships socially and academically, but were also overcome with fear watching the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on our world.

We would sit at home watching cases and death rates skyrocket, evoking anxiety over our safety and the lives of our loved ones.

Again, this all took a significant toll on our mental health.

According to a national poll on the pandemic’s negative impact on teen mental health conducted by the University of Michigan, 46% – so almost half – of parents noticed an increase in mental health conditions from March 2020 to March 2021. The poll asked parents to reflect on the behaviors of their teenagers

during the pandemic and reported that 36% of girls and 19% of boys were affected by anxiety and 31% of girls and 18% of boys battled depression.

Although most teens suffer from pandemic-inflicted mental health problems, it is especially evident in girls; as a female-dominant community, this is something that we should be considering.

Schools around the nation, including NDB, knew how the pandemic was affecting students, so they made many changes and accommodations during our time away from campus in order to improve our mental health. Teachers would check-in with their students and would be understanding when it came to workload. Zoom activities would be organized to encourage students to stay in-touch and not become socially isolated. School leaders would work to keep students motivated and help them cope with the anxiety brought on by the state of our world.

The times isolated at home are hard to look back on, and luckily it seems as if we have moved on from it all. COVID-19 vaccines have been available and administered, case and death rates have dropped, and the world

NEWS EDITOR Gulianna Ceschin OPINION EDITOR Molly Phan ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Mia Muzzi SPORTS EDITORS Francesca Arbelaez Emma Callicott SENIOR EDITOR Brooke Horvai

DRAWING COURTESY OF CIARA KINGHAM

Improving student mental health is an important part of the NDB community, especially with the return to on-campus learning. feels safer. We are back on campus, six-foot social distancing is no longer necessary, and sports and extracurriculars are back in session. Life seems completely back to normal with the simple requirement of masks. Students are able to socialize and collaborate again. So, all their issues should be resolved, right?

We must remember that mental health issues that developed or worsened during the pandemic do not just fade away. That anxiety or depression may still be just as present in students. We also cannot forget that returning to school can bring a whole

new wave of mental health problems that are equally as important.

Being back with so many people after so long can create anxiety.

Being in a new grade with more work can be difficult to manage. Being on a tighter schedule with less free time can be difficult to re-adjust to. Schools had done so much for the mental health of their students last year. So, why have they stopped some of it?

Even though there was more attention drawn to mental health during the pandemic, mental health problems can stem from anything. So, we must take

what we learned over quarantine and continue to implement it this year and in our future. Teachers should still do the same daily check-ins, and there should be activities dedicated to improving the health and wellness of students.

As an NDB community, we need to take care of one another. We do not know what may be the cause of others’ mental health struggles, so we must address students’ well-being with the same energy that we had during quarantine in order to be the best and most supportive environment that we all strive for.

een, so they can get enough sleep to focus on school the next day.

Lack of sleep can cause a handful of issues, such as losing focus or forgetting things, especially for students when they have to wake up early the next day. Giving the stu-

dents the option to sleep in for a late start day would be beneficial.

I believe that Halloween on a Sunday can be a blessing and a curse. Having it on a Sunday means that people can prepare for a longer amount of time that week in order to cele-

brate safely.

However, this means that there is work or school the next day and it can be hard to focus after a long night. Not being able to get enough sleep can be difficult, and I for one do not wish to take notes the day after.

Celebrating Halloween on a Sunday: Is it a trick or treat?

Emma Boyd Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

As we come closer to Halloween, students around the nation are excited to dress up and trick-ortreat. This year, Halloween falls on a Sunday. Celebrating it on a weekend day is always exciting for millions of kids, but many have conflicts with the traditional Sunday events.

The religious conflicts that are present for many can make it hard for people to celebrate the holiday on a Sunday. Those who attend church or have other religious obligations have a hard time indulging themselves in the traditional Halloween celebrations.

These religious conflicts cause children to have mixed feelings about Halloween on a Sunday. Many

children will try to respect their family’s religious beliefs, while also celebrating the Halloween traditions with friends. This overlap between religious and Halloween celebrations is a hard bridge for many to cross.

Along with the religious conflict, there is a physical conflict as well.

Trying to concentrate while being deprived of sleep is a very hard thing to do, especially if students have a test or a big project on Monday.

Although the school day should still be mandatory, schools should take into consideration how late their students will be staying up. Students would benefit from a late start on the Monday after Hallow-

STAFF WRITERS Desea Bond Emma Boyd Rose Gans Delaney Icard-Cullen Ariana Kraemer Ava Marinos Kayla Messick Jenna Metwally Ashley Strain Bella Topalian Madi Whitt 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

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA BOYD

From the archives: Several students show off their Hogwarts-themed costumes on Ding-Bat Day, NDB’s take on Halloween, on October 31, 2019.

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NDB recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

FEATURE

Dig Pink games support breast cancer research from DIG PINK| Page 1

by Emma Boyd Staff Writer

During the month of October, the NDB community took the time to bring attention to breast cancer.

In addition to wearing their pink apparel, students participated in several events to support breast cancer research.

The Dig Pink Club assisted the Athletics Department with the volleyball game by helping decorate, running check in and getting the word out. Before and during the event, a bake sale took place to raise money for the Bay Area Cancer Connections Foundation.

“The Dig Pink Club has 100 people,” explained sophomore Trisha Garud. “Which is a good chunk of the school, and I think that’s a great way to bring awareness.”

Many students have joined the Dig Pink Club this year, and a large portion of the school bought shirts, socks or bracelets. The Dig Pink Club also made pink hair ribbons, which were sold at the game to fans showing their support of the cause.

EMMA BOYD / THE CATALYST

Juniors Delaney Icard-Cullen and Athena Carvallo run the Dig Pink check-in table.

“Dig Pink is a great way to raise awareness to the community,” senior Ava Lough said. “But there could be a bit more done during the rest of October.”

Although the game was able to take place, there were some added difficulties due to COVID-19 this year.

“We’re not allowed to advertise at all [for the Dig Pink game],” said Stella Jaunich, Dig Pink Club co-president.

“It can’t really be a spirit

point event just because the amount of people in the gym is limited.”

The club had to work through these limitations and expand their efforts beyond the game itself. Between selling tasty baked goods to raise money and encouraging the student population to dress in pink, the club has found ways to continue their work despite the challenges of the pandemic. Breast cancer is something worth fighting, and every bit of support matters.

a Dig Pink game before were looking forward to taking part in this event.

“It’s my first Dig Pink game that Notre Dame is hosting, and I’ve heard that it’s a big event and I’m super excited to see all the spirit that happens,” said freshman Hailey Degnan.

Dig Pink shirts, socks, and wristbands were sold during lunch throughout the month of October in preparation for the game.

Shirts came in a variety of designs and were sold at $20, with socks at $15 and bracelets at $2 each.

Funds from these sales are donated to a charity chosen by the Dig Pink Club. This year, the money will go to the Bay Area Cancer Connections Foundation.

“It’s special because it’s a really fun game that brings the community together for a good cause,” said sophomore volleyball player Julia Breckenridge.

Leading up to the event, community members could add photos of loved ones who had breast cancer to a slideshow. It was played during the game to honor those who lost their lives to breast cancer and

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Junior Ciara Mangan gears up to pass the ball to her teammates. those who fought hard to survive it.

There were students from NDB, Serra, SHP, and Mercy there to show their support. They were decked out in pink and many had signs to cheer on the players.

“This year was my first Dig Pink game.

I didn’t go freshman year and it was obviously canceled last year, and I had a lot of fun,” said junior Kate Davidson. “I really liked dressing up in all pink and

supporting the teams.”

All games were very close, but only JV pulled off a victory against SHP in the end, with a score of 19 - 15 from the second set. Frosh had a final score of 14 - 16 in the third set, and varsity had 8 - 13 in the fifth set.

Overall, the main goal of the event was accomplished, with the game having raised a considerable amount of money to donate to breast cancer awareness and research.

Q&A with breast cancer survivor Alexandra Enright The Catalyst (TC): Could you share some background information on your experience with cancer?

Contributing Alexandra Enright (AE): So, priWriter Adeline or to my own diagnosis, I would say that my experience with canVentura sat down cer was pretty minimal. I work with breast cancer for the University of Maryland survivor Alexandra Medical System. I have had exEnright... perience interacting with cancer doctors and cancer patients, telling their stories for my job, but otherwise nothing too personal.

TC: What was the trigger that you discovered you had breast cancer?

AE: I had a lump in my breast, and then I saw a doctor who said that I needed to go to the radiologist to have an ultrasound... Basically, they said that the ultrasound looked like it was a tumor and that it looked like I needed to have a biopsy.

...to discuss her experience as a patient and share ideas TC: Can you share some of the on how to support emotions that you went through those with breast as you were diagnosed, shared cancer this news with others and started your treatment plan?

AE: Yeah. So, I mean, obviously any time somebody says the word “cancer,” it’s frightening. It’s scary. It’s a little overwhelming. But, then I think that, for me, it was kind of “What is the next step?” [and] “What are the treatments that I am going to have to endure to put this behind me?”

So, pretty quickly – it was a couple weeks, I guess – after my diagnosis, they told me that I would need to start with chemotherapy, and that I would need to do that. And then, I would have surgery.

And it was kind of unclear at that point if I would have a lumpectomy, where they just kind of pull out the cancer, or have a mastectomy, and then whether or not I would need radiation.

So, the thing about it is, until you have breast cancer, you don’t really understand there are so many different types of breast cancer... Mine was called EGR2+.

...In addition to the chemotherapy, I had to have two additional drugs for a full year because of the type of cancer it was.

TC: What do you think high school students should do to help patients such as yourself?

AE: I think you could do things like put a note in the mail, a card that says some supportive message... They could just be having a bad day, and your note, right then and there – it feels like they are being supported by somebody out there.

Bake chocolate cookies and deliver them. Even if she doesn’t want to

eat them, they could take them to the chemo infusion center and give them to the nurses.

If they are going through chemo and they are going to become bald, get some head wraps or things like that.

Or, even a stack of magazines.

TC: Has anything positive come out of your experience?

AE: Yes. I do think I had a renewed faith in people. I met some new, really great people. The doctors and nurses were so kind and so helpful. They made me feel secure and safe when I went into the infusion center.

People are quick these days.

Like, you go to a parking lot and everybody is just honking at you, telling you to hurry up and get into your spot. And, it was just nice to have people who were there looking out for you and helping you.

TC: What are your thoughts about all the pink that shows up in October?

AE: I just went to a soccer game, and all the boys on the other team had on pink socks. I mean, do those kids really think about it? I don’t think so. I guess it’s good that some people are drawing attention to it at some point in the year.

With the pandemic, I think a lot of women put mammograms and their care on hold. So, maybe this October seeing the pink will make them think they should get a mammogram because they didn’t get them the past two years because of the pandemic.

FEATURE

NDB celebrates Halloween spirit week

by Peyton Daley Editor in Chief

Every year, NDB has Spirit Week leading up to the Ding-Bat Day rally.

The rally is an NDB tradition to celebrate Halloween, and offers students a chance to relax and have fun with their friends while playing games and cheering on their sisters.

Throughout Spirit Week, students who chose to dress up could check in with ASB during lunch, and the class with the greatest number of participants overall wins the most spirit points. There was also one staff member each day that looked for the five best costumes of that day’s theme.

Those students earned ten extra spirit points for their class. The rally was also an opportunity to gain points through winning games and cheering loudly for classmates.

The week started off with Country vs. Country Club day on Monday, October 25.

“I think Country vs. Country Club day was a really good idea. I think they’re both very different, and so I like the contrast,” said senior Catie Mahlman.

“I think it’s easy to dress up as country club or country,

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Popular costumes

By Desea Bond Staff Writer

With the spooky season comes the need to find a costume. Tik Tok has lots of great ideas for trendy costumes.

Dressing up as a fairy is definitely going to be popular this year.

The materials are easy to find, and it is quite trendy. The trend originates from the comeback of the “Tinkerbell” movies on Tik Tok. It’s easy to do solo or as a group costume. This includes skirts, dresses, bright colors and, of course, fairy wings.

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

Freshmen Hannah Alghussain (left), Heidi Hepler, Nina Wall, Hailey Degnan and Paige Lambert dress as “country club” for spirit week. so it’s easy to participate in and it’s fun.”

Next came 2000s Throwback Day. The Tigers were encouraged to wear low-waisted jeans, track suits, animal prints, and anything else fitting the theme.

“I’m wearing leggings, boots, a Gap hoodie, super skinny sunglasses and bright blue eyeshadow,” junior Melanie Castelli shared about her outfit for 2000s day. “[My favorite Spirit Week day] is probably color day because that’s

when the rally is.”

Wednesday, October 27 was a wellness day, so students choosing to come to campus during the morning or afternoon sessions wore free dress.

On Thursday, students wore their class colors in preparation for the Ding-Bat Day rally. The annual Pumpkin Carving Contest was held that day, with the categories being spookiest, most creative and best overall.

The Baking Contest also took place, and students brought Halloween-themed

treats to be judged based on taste, creativity, and spooky decorations.

Friday is the last school day before Halloween, so students get to wear their costume to class. The Costume Contest will be held during lunch in the Moore Pavilion, an event that students look forward to every year. Both students and teachers can compete in group and individual categories and show off their outfits to the school, getting ready for Halloween night on October 31.

What are NDB’s Halloween favorites?

Teachers shared their best memories of the holiday.

NDB students love Halloween. Between an exciting Spirit Week, scarily impressive costumes, pumpkins carved with incredible care and an excuse to hang out with friends, many students look forward to the day all year. But it is not easy to forget a fan favorite part of the spooky day: candy. Students answered a poll on their favorite treats.

“The first Halloween I celebrated in the states, I was eight years old and I had never celebrated Halloween before. I found that I could go from house to house and say those magic words, ‘trick-ortreat’ and people would give me candy.”

Dressing up as a pirate is also popular costume idea this year. With corsets and the “vintage” style making a comeback, this costume is perfect. The main inspiration is Keira Knightley’s character, Elizabeth Swan from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Costumes can vary, from full gowns with lace and puff sleeves to a simple torn shirt and fun pirate hat.

With the recent popularity of early 2000’s style or Y2K fashion, it is expected that lots of people will dress up just in Y2K style. This means low rise pants, tube tops and colorful tracksuits. People might also dress like famous Y2K icons, like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears or Devon Aoki.

- Isabelle Haithcox “The first thing that comes to mind is last year, my sister-inlaw got engaged on Halloween. It was really fun because she and her partner are kind of goth, so they had the whole house decorated for Halloween, and it was very cute.”

Trick-or-treating is an absolute must for young children, but some high schoolers decide to opt out of this Halloween activity. The Catalyst polled the Tigers to see who plans to go out seeking candy on October 31.

- Matthew Hankins “I was invited by the English Department to be in their group. Instead of asking other people, they asked me and I was part of Wizard of Oz, I was Dorothy. That was the beginning of our little teacher group that we put together.”

- Martha Anne Kuntz

Information compiled and graphics designed

by Clair Sapilewski, Managing Editor

All things from the 2000s are also making a comeback. Look forward to lots of people dressed like the characters from the horror film “Jennifer’s Body”.

Costumes from other teen movies like “Clueless”, “10 Things I Hate About You”, “Thirteen” and “Twilight” are sure to appear.

“My mom would love to have Halloween parties for us and she would up dress too. One time she dressed up as a witch and put green eye makeup on her face and tried to scare us when we went out trick-or-treating.”

- Jennifer Walton

Other popular costume inspirations are the characters from “Total Drama Island,” specifically Gwen and Lindsay. “Total Drama Island” has been gaining popularity all over again in the past two years, and people seem to love taking a modern twist on their favorite childhood characters.

ARTS & LIFE

page 6

How to be COVID-19 safe at your favorite music festival

by Mia Muzzi Arts & Life Editor

When COVID-19 hit, everything shut down, including live music performances. For the past year, fans have been forced to watch their favorite artists perform from a TV screen.

But, after a long time of waiting, concerts are back and better than ever, leaving everyone grateful for the opportunity to have a fun night out with friends and family.

Even though everyone is happy about concerts and music festivals resuming, there still remain challenges to overcome.

One of the main goals for each event is to avoid the spread of COVID-19. In order to keep everyone safe, venues have rules as to who can get in and how.

For most venues around the Bay Area, such as Shoreline or the SAP Center, proof of vaccination is required. If attendants are not vaccinated, then they must have a negative PCR COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours.

The difference between these two particular venues iw the mask requirements.

Shoreline

is outdoors, so masks are optional for attendees. But, SAP Center is indoors, so masks have to be worn throughout the whole concert.

Freshman Hailey Degnan attended Luke Bryan’s recent concert at Shoreline. She enjoyed her experience and commended the concert for requiring proof of vaccinations and PCR tests.

“The fact that we had to show the actual card of vaccination definitely made me feel a lot

safer,” said Degnan. “Probably because I knew people weren’t lying and were actually vaccinated.”

Concerts are one of the many events making a comeback after a year in lockdown. Everyone has learned to be safe by following the necessary precautions that come with attending a concert. Wearing a mask, bringing a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, are the steps to having a safe and fun experience.

On October 8, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Eon Productions released the twenty-sixth James Bond movie, “No Time to Die,” which marks the end of Daniel Craig’s career as the infamous MI6 agent.

The movie starts with Bond and Madeleine Swann enjoying a peaceful life of retirement in Matera, Italy. This is short lived as they get attacked and, thinking she betrayed him, Bond sends her away on a train.

The scene changes to five years later where Bond is still in retirement and living in Jamaica. His old friend and CIA agent, Felix Leiter, shows up and asks for his help to rescue a kidnapped scientist. At first he declines, but decides to help when he finds out that MI6 replaced him and the new 007 agent was sent on the mission.

What starts out as an easy rescue mission turns out to be way more complicated than Bond expected with multiple forces at play and new technology being developed that threatens the world.

The expectations of “No Time to Die” were really high considering the

“I would be really scared but I would lead a group of my friends and family into outer space to save them.”

– Charlotte Parks, ‘25

“I would ask a bunch of friends to stay with me to have company and make allies with other humans. If there was time I would prob make traps to capture the zombies.”

– Lainey Lee, ‘24

“I would first contact my family members to make sure they are safe... Once my house was secure, I would go to a sports store and get football and hockey uniforms for protection from zombie bites.

My strategy would be to stay isolated in my house unless I ran out of supplies.”

– Mary Courtney Templeton, ‘23

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLY PHAN

Juniors Kassie Hickson and Anna Keim stay COVID-19 safe at the Tame Impala concert.

Review: “No Time To Die”

by Natalie Nootbaar Staff Writer

Q&A: What would you do if it was the zombie apocalypse?

fact that it had to close off the story arc of what some fans consider to be the best version of Bond to ever hit the big screen.

“No Time to Die” faced a lot of pressure because the previous film, “Spectre,” left a mess to clean up after it was thought to be a disappointment. With all of the boxes that fans wanted the franchise to check, the movie was weighed down and did not meet all of the many high standards. Director

Cary Joji Fukunaga played it way too safe and dragged the movie on way longer than fans wanted.

While the film has an unexpected plot line and does not completely follow in the pattern of the previous Bond movies, there are certain elements that refer back to them that are important to know. Before going to the theater to experience the story, watch “Spectre” to help understand the plot of this new movie.

“I would gather supplies, especially weapons and PPE. Then, if I had time, I would contact everyone on my ‘likely to survive the apocalypse’ list. Then I would flee... I’m not looking to get munched on by my neighbors.”

- Ashley Lau, ‘22 INFORMATION COMPILED BY MIA MUZZI, ARTS & LIFE EDITOR.

SF celebrates Fleet Week

PHOTO COURTESY OF DELANEY ICARD-CULLEN

United Boeing 777 flies past the Marina.

by Delaney Icard-Cullen Contributing Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF MGM STUDIOS AND EON PRODUCTIONS.

What is Fleet Week? Living close to San Francisco and knowing that this event goes on yearly, there are still so many people who do not even know what it really is or the history behind it.

The first Fleet Week was held in San Diego in 1935. During this time, war was raging overseas and US citizens were still struggling in the aftermath of the Great Depression. President Roosevelt felt that it was important to raise morale and decided the best way to do this was to prove that the Navy was still very much alive and for the people. It was created to honor the contri-

butions of the armed forces, while also advancing the knowledge and understanding of military personnel to civilians.

Fleet Week was first brought to San Francisco in 1981 by Mayor Dianne Feinstein and, due to San Francisco’s prime bay location, it was a must add to its list of visiting cities.

It is very unique.

It is the only airshow to feature a commercial airliner. This year, it will be a United Boeing 777.

Fleet Week took place Wednesday, October 6 to Monday, October 11 on the Marine Greens in the city.

There are so many events in Fleet Week. Most well known is the appearance of the Blue Angels,

a branch of naval forces, created by Admiral Chester Nimitz in April 1964.

Though the air show may be the most intriguing aspect of Fleet Week, there are still many events including bands, ship tours, and photo exhibitions.

H o w e v e r , COVID-19 is still a major concern for many people wondering if they should attend. Luckily, the Health Department is looking out for the people of the Bay area.

To be safe, participants have to follow the rules. However, it does not mean that they cannot have fun and try to experience things the way people used to.

SPORTS page 7 Fall Sports: The Senior Games by Francesca Arbelaez, Sports Co-Editor Featured athlete: Mara Riitters, Tennis Golf

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAVVY SWEET

Golf plays at Whipple for one of their last matches of the season.

The Tigers pulled through at their senior match against Notre Dame HS in San Jose. The game took place on October 12 at Moffett Field in Mountain View.

The four seniors on the team – Emma Boyd, Alison Lewis, Brindha Ramanathan and Vicki Samaras – led NDB to a 280302 victory with the lowest score winning in golf. This match was the Tigers’ first

golf win of the season, and a great way for the seniors to celebrate their years on the team.

“My favorite memory from playing golf was riding in the van with the whole team. It was really nice to hang out with everyone in those short traveling times, even if there was no conversation happening,” said Samaras.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARA RIITTERS

Riitters serves the ball to her opponent.

Water polo

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM GOULD

Caroline Turk blocks a shot at the senior game.

by Emma Callicott Sports Co-Editor

Stella Jaunich, Isabelle Neil, Olivia Semien and Caroline Turk make up the seniors on the water polo team.

For their senior event, they played Mercy HS in Burlingame on October 20 at the Serra HS pool.

Their senior game is also known as Fan Fest, where parents and relatives of players get together and have a barbeque dinner for the team.

Jaunich and Neil are co-team captains and led the Tigers to a 17-2 win.

Neil made seven goals, Semien scored four, and Jaunich added two.

Turk, the team’s goalie, also blocked 11 shots.

“I’m going to miss all the laughs and memory making. [Water polo] really is one of the best teams at NDB because of the tight bonds we make as sisters,” said Jaunich.

The varsity volleyball team has been crushing it this season with 15-9 overall as of this writing.

Alexis Curry and Haley Stuart are the team’s seniors and have played since freshman year.

Their loss to Sacred Heart HS in the Dig Pink game on Tuesday, October 19 has made them even more pumped up for the upcoming games.

The team’s last

game is on October 26 against NDB’s sister school, Mercy HS in Burlingame. The last time that they played Mercy, NDB won 3-1, so they are anticipating another win.

“My older sister, Kayla, inspired me to start playing volleyball,” said Hayley Stuart. “I used to do whatever she did. So, when she started playing, so did I, and I have stuck with the sport ever since.”

Tennis is very popular this year for seniors, with nine graduating players. Nikka Ahani, Kaelyn Baldenegro, Angelina Chopoff, Kyra Green, Ziara Matthews, Chloe McGraw, Payton Peters, Mara Riitters and Avery Tuthill make up the senior members of the tennis team.

Most of the team has played the sport since their freshman year.

“I really love this sport, but I don’t know if I

will have the time to play competitively anymore.

Tennis is an easy pick-up game,” said Tuthill.

Their senior game is on October 28 at the College of San Mateo courts against Castilleja School.

NDB suffered a loss to Castilleja during the last time they played them, so the team is fired up and hoping for a win at their senior match.

The senior cross country meet is coming up on November 5 at the Crystal Springs course.

This meet will also be their league finals, where the individual runners and the team can qualify for CCS.

Seniors Kayla George and Elle Rau are the team captains. The three other senior runners are Peyton Daley, Emma Nilstoft and Clair Sapilewski.

Most of the team’s

graduating runners have participated in cross country for all four years of high school.

“I definitely enjoy running and can see myself doing it in the future, but not as competitively as this year,” said Rau when asked what her plans were for cross country in college.

The seniors are looking forward to seeing how they place in their senior meet.

Volleyball

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Alexis Curry tips the ball at the Dig Pink game.

Tennis

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARA RIITTERS

Mara Riitters readies for a set from Castilleja.

Cross country

DELANEY ICARD-CULLEN / THE CATALYST

NDB pulls ahead at their second WBAL meet.

Mara Riitters, a senior and varsity tennis player, sat down with The Catalyst and answered a few questions about her high school tennis career.

Riitters started playing tennis far before she came to NDB.

“I was really young [when I started playing], like, maybe third grade,” she said. “And then I took some breaks over the years, but... I’ve always just kind of played.”

She began the sport because both of her parents and her sibling played tennis during their high school years.

“My mom [inspired me to learn tennis], kind of, and my sister because they both played, and my mom has been playing throughout since high school and my dad played in high school too. So, I just kind of thought it’d be good for me to play too.”

As a freshman, Riitters began playing tennis for NDB. After one year on the JV team, she moved up to varsity during her sophomore year.

“I feel like when I started tennis, it was just kind of more focused on, like, individual stuff,” she continued. “But then, once I did tennis for Notre Dame, I feel like I really

got to experience being on a team. And, I feel like that was really fun. Just like, the camaraderie.”

Now in her final season of playing for the school, she is very involved in the team.

“I’m a captain this year, and I’m a senior, and it’s my third year on varsity,” she described. “I was excited this year to just kind of take on more of a leadership role.”

She has been dedicated to the sport for years, which allowed her to step into a leadership position and share her experience with teammates.

“There were only two sophomores on varsity when I was a sophomore.

So, me and another girl, Kyra, are now captains. So, having the ability to play like a higher level from, like, being a sophomore led me to it.”

Her favorite memory from her time playing tennis was the tournaments.

“We had a tournament in Clovis... two years ago,” she said. “But, it’s really just fun to go [to a tournament] this year because there’s like nine seniors on teams. It is really fun to celebrate with them for our last year of playing.”

She hopes to continue playing tennis with family and friends after she graduates NDB.

Follow

@NDBAthletics for NDB sports news, game schedules and scores.

page 8

NEWS

Sophomores and juniors participate in National Testing Day

by Gulianna Ceschin News Editor

On Wednesday, October 13, NDB participated in National Testing Day, which marks the day when sophomores and juniors throughout the country take the PSAT. Some schools make it optional, while others required.

“I thought the test went really well. I liked being able to have a break afterwards! That was a lot of fun,” said junior Sofia Frisz.

The PSAT is a very helpful way for sophomores and juniors to prepare for their senior year when they will be taking the SAT or ACT.

Many colleges have recently gone test-optional due to the pandemic, but standardized tests still remain a part of the college applications process.

Every year, NDB students use their past PSAT scores to guide them on how to prepare for the SAT and as a scale of how much they have grown as students in their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school.

A day in the life of a Tiger

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

PEYTON DALEY / THE CATALYST

GULIANNA CESCHIN / THE CATALYST

AP Chemistry students Hailey Braun (left) and Keara Rhodes prepare a solution for their lab on Wednesday, October 6 to learn about molarity.

NDB students take the PSAT during their sophomore and junior years.

Many students, especially upperclasswomen, remember the PSAT as a very helpful opportunity to be prepared for the SAT and ACT tests that they will be taking in the near future.

For juniors, the PSAT is also an opportunity to earn college scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Although the PSAT can bring stress to many students, Tigers are

thankful that it allows them to prepare for future tests and track their progress so that the upcoming college season will be less daunting.

Since the Dragons and Wildcats were taking the test all-day, the seniors and freshmen did not attend school on Wednesday.

Many students, especially Spartans, used this time as an opportunity to work on their college applications

and visit college campuses for tours.

Additionally, the PSAT also marks the beginning of NDB’s annual fall break for the remainder of that week. Students always enjoy this time of year because it gives them the opportunity to catch up on schoolwork and relax before the upcoming holidays and the stress of first semester final exams.

Students enjoy mid-October’s fall break

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

The I Am Diverse club lead the school’s celebration of Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead by continuing its tradition of setting up an offrenda or altar in which the community’s lost loved ones are honored.

MIA MUZZI / THE CATALYST

PHOTOS COMPILED BY THE CATALYST EDITORIAL STAFF

Students share their fall break activities, which included college tours and family trips.

by Molly Phan Opinion Editor

NDB’s fall break gives students and teachers two to three days off from school in mid-October as the break occurs in the middle of the first semester. The community takes this opportunity to refresh, catch up, and take care of themselves. This year, the fall holidays fell on October 14 and 15.

Each year, the days off are right after

National Testing Day, in which sophomores and juniors are required to take the PSAT. Freshmen and seniors are given an extra day off, while the rest of the students take the test on-campus.

For all students, fall break was a time to relax, unwind and catch up on school work before assignments start to ramp up and finals approach.

“I went to Santa Barbara with my friends to relax, shop, and spend

time with them,” said sophomore Reese Lancaster. “I was excited and grateful for this time away from school.”

This break was also a great opportunity for students, mainly upperclassmen, to focus on colleges they are interested in. Whether it was college applications for seniors or campus visits for other students, the time away from school was used to students’ advantage.

“I worked on my

essay for my application and the break was really beneficial because I was able to get a lot done and take some of the stress away from the early action deadline of November 1st,” said senior Maddy Scheinman.

The school’s fall break is widely appreciated by the community, and this year students were excited to be participating in activities, such as traveling and being social again.

Science teacher Mallika Srinivasan helps freshmen and sophomore biology students with their homework during a collaboration period.

PEYTON DALEY / THE CATALYST

English teachers Peggy Brady (left), Esthermaria Martin, Rachna Dharna, and Robert Rojas pose for a picture at the end of last Sunday’s Open House event. Martin and Dharna are new members of the school community.