Dear Friends,
As fall approaches, I am looking forward to an exciting school year. Our new building has been completed with the first classes having been held on August 29, 2011. Students and teachers alike are overjoyed with their new learning environment. A creative energy is palpable as new ideas and strategies are being developed to utilize our new space and maximize the educational experience for all of our students. We were honored to have Bishop Olmsted conduct our Building Dedication and Blessing in late September.
As we welcome the Class of 2015 and their parents, I send my congratulations to our recent graduates, the Class of 2011. 99% of the class went on to college and earned over $3 million in college scholarships. I also wish to thank our staff retirees Louann Walther, Mary Ann Rich, Rudy Martinez and Karen Larson for their dedication and service to the Seton community. You will be missed!
I am very grateful to all our benefactors and volunteers who help to make our school so successful. A $500,000 challenge grant gift from the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation will assist us in acquiring the additional interior furnishings and equipment needed for the building. An anonymous donor offered a challenge grant for gifts to the Fund for Seton Catholic, helping to bring that campaign to a successful conclusion. The Sentinel Booster Club, led by current parent, Mr. Greg Gesicki, installed new visitor bleachers for our football stadium. Over 100 volunteers participated in moving into our new building, saving the school thousands of dollars. My heartfelt thanks for all of their efforts!
Zawtocki
The beginning of the school year has been a very exciting time for all of us who are part of the Seton Catholic Preparatory family. The opening of our new Fine Arts Building represents the culmination of years of hard work and belief by many members of the Seton Catholic community. The building is beautiful, and seeing the smiles on the faces of the teachers and students as they entered the building made the entire journey worthwhile. The move into the new building truly represented what makes Seton Catholic such a special place. More than 100 volunteers turned out at 7:00 am on a hot and muggy Saturday morning to assist with the move. The sense of community was overwhelming, as was the excitement
I am honored to serve as your principal during this important time in our school’s history and I invite you to visit our campus and enjoy the many activities and events that are planned this fall. Please join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s many blessings to the Seton community. Once a Sentinel, Always a Sentinel! Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!
at seeing and helping to prepare the new building for our students.
For me, this year is especially exciting. Not only is my son a senior who will be part of the first class to graduate in the new theater, but I also have the honor to serve as the President of the Parent Advisory Board this year. As many of you know, the members of the Parent Advisory Board are your elected representatives. Our role is to serve as advisors to the administration at the school and to be there to represent all of you and your interest in Seton Catholic. If we can be of assistance, please feel free to contact any member of the Board. The names and contact information is available on the school web site.
This year we are focusing on helping to establish bridges between ourselves and the other groups, such as the Booster Club, the Fine Arts Association, the Board of Trustees and the Parents Association, all who work so hard to make Seton Catholic
a true community as well as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the country. We want to ensure that we coordinate our efforts and assist each other so that, together, we can do more for Seton and our community. This year the Advisory Board will be sponsoring a service project that will allow all of us to give back to the community at large and to join our students as they expand their commitment to community service. Be on the look-out for details concerning this project in the near future.
Thank you so much for all you do to make Seton Catholic Prep the special place it is. Please enjoy the new building. If you haven’t seen it yet, please take the time for a tour. It will make you smile and will add a little luster to your Sentinel pride.
I look forward to a great year and a bright future for Seton Catholic.
The long-awaited new academic/fine arts classroom building became a reality on Thursday, August 25, 2011, thanks to the prayers, planning and financial resources provided by so many people in the Seton community and beyond.
Over the years, the Seton community has provided “sweat equity” for many projects, including building our current campus after a 1980 fire which destroyed most of the school at its original location in downtown Chandler; building the Msgr. John McMahon Gymnasium; constructing our athletic fields; and, most recently, constructing our new visitor bleachers. Moving into the new building was no exception, as over 100 volunteers from the Seton community, armed with their own dollies and moving equipment, gathered on a warm Saturday morning to move classroom items and faculty belongings into their new home. “It felt like a ‘barn-raiser’ as instructions and teams were sent out. There was much laughter and hard work. Although we were sweating, nothing could have fulfilled us more than seeing this beautiful building, while the teachers continually thanked us,” said Paula Moore, Seton parent and Advisory Board member.
SPECIAL NOTE: Building receives special blessing from Gila River Indian Community
Current Seton parents who are also members of the Gila River Indian Community requested that a special ceremony be held to bless all those who would pass through the doors of our new academic/fine arts building. On August 4, 2011, with full support of Bishop Olmsted, tribal member Barnaby Lewis, along with our Gila River Seton families and board members, conducted the ceremony on the front entry steps of the new building.
Seton staff members Karen h ill and Linda Barkyoumb embraced the opportunity to become our Moving Coordinators, putting in countless hours to plan and coordinate the moving process. “Everything went smoothly, and with so many volunteers, we were finished in only three hours,” said Karen h ill. Our thanks go to all who participated, as their efforts saved the school thousands of dollars in professional moving expenses.
The first day of classes in the new building brought much excitement to the lives of faculty and students alike. “It’s so nice to have a classroom of my
own! The kids were so excited when they came into class. I’ve never seen our kids so happy!” remarked Beth Ruggiero, an English department teacher whose classes now occupy one of the new multi-purpose classrooms.
Both students and faculty adjusted quickly to their new digs, although the size of the building can be a little confusing at first. Faculty member Jennifer Kohl was on the lower level of the building and shared that she was feeling a little lost and then she ran into some students looking for band practice. As they roamed the halls, one said “just follow the music.” “ h ey, getting
lost is just part of the new building,” she laughed.
The new building will meet one of Seton Catholic Prep’s most pressing needs – space for our fine arts programs. Tim Smith, our band director, shared how thrilled he is to be in the new space, however, he was surprised by the reactions of the students. “They had so much joy and energy as they first came in. They literally skipped through the halls and new spaces,” he said.
Our principal, Patricia Collins, along with the faculty and staff, were overjoyed to host the Building Blessing and Dedication Ceremony on Tuesday,
As one enters Seton Catholic Preparatory it is evident that Seton Catholic is making a difference as a Catholic school in this community. Seton does a wonderful job of academic education- look at the excelling test scores and a graduation rate of 100%. That is why Seton Catholic is prized in this community, they offer the best opportunity for students to receive a first-rate education. But there is something more.
There is an intangible element we might call “environment “an atmosphere of faith, prayer, discipline, respect, order, virtue, safety, with the presence of Jesus-the One called ”Teacher” and “Master” by his students, his disciples - everywhere. hanging on the wall in every school is the following.” Let it be known to all who enter here that Jesus Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but every-present teacher in all its classes, the model of its faculty and the inspiration for its students.” These are powerful words that beautifully
and succinctly describe what a Catholic School is all about.
The aim of Catholic schools is to produce young adults who are more alive because they have been taught and experienced the love of God with a sense that there is an inner meaning and coherence in life and all creation.
This building will enhance a commitment to excellence, an individually and collectively shared spirituality, and ministry to others, inspires students, teachers and parents to actively participate in the living community
of the school through the example of their lives. This spirit as practiced in community reveals the Church in the truest sense of its mission.
As St. Elizabeth Ann Seton reminds us “the first end propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly to do it because it his will.”
To the Seton Catholic Preparatory community, may you continue to do the will of God in the manner he wills it and because it is his will!
September27,2011
September 27 at 4:00 pm. The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted was present to conduct the blessing ceremony and spoke of his love and support for Catholic education and his gratitude to all who made the building possible. MaryBeth Mueller, School Superintendent, encouraged the Seton community to continue building the campus to provide the opportunity for even more students to have the Seton experience. Mayor of Chandler, Jay Tibshraeny, congratulated the Seton community on this great accomplishment and thanked them for providing quality, values-based education for the citizens
of Chandler and for contributing to a well-educated workforce for area businesses. Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed refreshments and building tours provided by our Student Ambassadors.
‘‘
We look forward to the coming months as the impact of this building, and the opportunities it will provide, will be felt by students, faculty and the larger community. For now, we are grateful to God for h is many blessings and to the legacy of our patroness, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
--Cynthia h offman S ETON FAC u LTY
‘‘ While we certainly can teach our subjects in any environment, to have such beautiful surroundings is uplifting for teachers and students alike. We were all nearly giddy with delight, and it opened a wonderful opportunity for us to remember to be thankful to God and everyone who had a part in making this terrific facility a reality.
1979
Theresa Ratti ’79 graduated fromArizonaStateUniversity with a PhD in education.
Congratulationsto Deborah Kirby Stanton ’01,recently named Director of the Washington,IowaPublic Library.
Ann E. Adams ’02 graduated inMayfromColoradoState UniversityandisnowDr. Anne E. Adams, DVM!
Congratulationsto Anthony Grubbs ’02 and his wife Alysseonthebirthoftheir firstchild,EthanJoseph,on April25,2011.TheGrubbs familycurrentlyresidesinEl Paso,Texas,whereAnthony istheOperationsManager forFergusonEnterprises, awholesaleplumbing companybasedinNewPort News,Virginia.Anthony andAlyssemetatNorthern ArizonaUniversitywherethey bothgraduatedin2006.
Prayers and best wishes to Stewart J. Dandorf ’03, whoisinEcuadordoingHIV research for yaleUniversity.
Congratulationsto Amy Barlow ’04 and JJ Vaughan ’04, who were married in2010.Amygraduated fromRollinsCollegein Florida, where she earned a BachelorofArtsinEnglish. JJgraduatedfromDeVry Institute, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in ProjectManagement.JJ currentlyworksforPearson, Inc. The couple and their children,OliviaandSophie, reside in New Milford, New Jersey.
OnceaSentinel,Always a Sentinel—even 8,000 milesaway!AgroupofNFL coaches,includingKen Whisenhunt of the Arizona Cardinals,visitedtroops inIraqwiththeUSOTour this past summer. Included wasastopatamilitary installation in southern Iraq,whereSetonalumnus c isstationed.Eagerto meet the Marines, Coach Whisenhunt walked up toJoe,notknowingthe Arizona connection, and asked him his name and where he was from. Joe replied, “the Phoenix area, sir.” Coach Whisenhunt said, “Wow, what a small world!” to which Joe replied, “It’sabouttogetsmaller,
sir.Myyoungerbrother playedfootballwithyour son at Seton Catholic, and Iam,infact,a2003grad.” Joe said the look on Coach Whisenhunt’s face was priceless! It is a small world, indeed!
Joseph Waters ‘03 and Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Nicole Ethier ‘06 hashadabusyyearandahalf! After graduatinginMayof2010fromASU’sWalterCronkite SchoolwithaBAinDigitalJournalismandaMinorin Spanish,shewentontoholdavarietyofpositions,most notablyasanassociatenewsproducerforthe5o’clock and6o’clockeveningnewscastsatChannel12Newsin Phoenix.TheninOctober,shewashonoredtoacceptan invitationbytheGermangovernmenttoparticipateina week-longculturalexchangetripofferedtotoprecentlygraduatedjournalismstudentsfromacrossthenation. ThispastApril,NicoleleftforIndonesiatocomplete three-monthsoftraininginordertobecomeaSecondaryEducationPeaceCorpsVolunteer.Shewasswornin onJune15thandwillservethereforthenexttwoyears, returninginJuneof2013.ShecurrentlyteachesEnglish asaForeignLanguage(TEFL)atalocalhighschoolinthe Bondowoso Province, East Java—and tells us that so far shelovesit!Nicoleiskeepingablogtoshareherexperiences,bothinIndonesiancultureandasaPeaceCorps volunteer. you can read about it at http://thepersonette. wordpress.com.
Congratulationsto Alexander Amato ’06!Alexgraduated MagnaCumLaudefrom ArizonaStateUniversity in December 2010 with a degreeinCommunication. Amatocurrentlyworksat Antique Electronics with several other Seton Catholic alumni.ThispastJuly Alex travelled to Brussels, Missouri and Seattle, where hecompetedinaMagicthe
2007
Michael L. Barlow, Jr. ’07 graduatedSummaCum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa fromHobartCollegein Geneva, New york,inMay 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science.Heisworkingasan investmentbankingcredit analystforJ.P.Morganat their corporate headquarters in New yorkCity.
Shannon Desmond ’07 graduatedSummaCum LaudeonMay14fromSeton HallUniversityanddelivered thevaledictoryaddress for the Stillman School of Business at the academic awardsceremonyonMay 15th. Shannon has been named a Female ScholarAthlete of the year, has been a member of the women’s soccer team at Seton Hall and made the Dean’s List everysemester,carryinga perfect4.0GPAasasport managementmajor.
Kudos to Victoria Roman ’07, who has received a FulbrightScholarshipto studyinCentralAsia.Victoria waschosenfromamong hundredsofapplicants, includingthosewithpostgraduatedegrees,forthis prestigiousprogram.Earlier intheyear,Victoriawas a member of the team fromGeorgeWashington Universitythatwonthe Atlantic area division of theWorldGeographyBowl Competition.Theteam traveled to the annual meetingoftheAssociation ofAmericanGeographersin Seattle,wheretheyplayed another seven rounds and came in second place in the national competition.
2008
Adrianna Amato ’08 was“TappedforExcellence.” duringtherecent84th annualTapDayonthe UniversityofMissouri
wereagainfortunatetobeworkingon the 2011 MTv videoMusicAwardsinAugust.Thisyear’sawardshowhadthebiggestratingin MTv’shistory!
(Mizzou)campus.Shewas among21MissouriSchool of Journalism students and onefacultymemberwho weretappedintofiveofthe sixUniversityofMissouri’s secrethonorarysocieties. Current members chose the new “taps” basedonexemplary academicperformance, extracurricular activities, scholarship, leadership and service. The new members’ identities were secret until theceremony.Amatowas tappedintotheMystical Seven, which honors those seven men and women of theUniversitywhohave displayedselflessleadership andexemplarycharacter. Adriannaismajoringin broadcastjournalismwith a minor in political science atMizzou.Sheiscurrently studyinginBrussels, Belgiumwhileinterning at Thomson Reuters in thebroadcastjournalism department,coveringthe European Union summits and NATO conferences.
Congratulationsto Ryan P. Harrigan ’08 whorecently completedhissecondyear of the U.S. Coast Guard AcademyinNewLondon,CT.
Congratulationsto Lauren M. Harrigan ’10 whorecently completedherfirstyearat theUniversityofConnecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.
TheSetonCatholicPrep communityextends congratulationsto Eduardo Rivera ‘10. Eduardo has beenofficiallyaccepted as a seminarian for the CongregationofSt.Basil (C.S.B.).Thisreligious order founded and operatestheUniversityof St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, where Eduardo is currentlyastudent.Their focus is education and evangelization.Aliturgical celebration was held in HoustoninAugustwhere hisacceptancewaspublicly recognized.Pleasecontinue toprayforEduardoand his discernment. God workedthroughtheSeton communitytohelphim discern this vocation. Let’s continue to help him with our prayers.
Congratulationsto Kevin Spinner ’10! Kevin received anawardinSeptember fromtheUniversityof Arizona for academic distinction based on a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.9. He also received a scholarship for his academics and workwiththeEllerCollege AmbassadorsprogramatU of A. The Eller ambassadors serve as peer mentors andrepresentativesofthe
collegewhentalkingwith prospective students and families.
Making a Difference through Music
AttheUniversityofArizona
Newman Center, former Seton band member Sam Vergel De Dios ’10 isleading music at the 11:00 am Mass and Amanda Pfeifer ’09 is leadingmusicattheSunday evening5:00pmMass.
Further north, Bernadette Smith ’10 iscoordinatingall the Masses at the Northern ArizonaUniversityNewman CenterinFlagstaff. DO YOU
Alumniandfriendsgatheredtobidadieutomembersof theClassof2011atMajerle’satChandlerFashionCenter. TheSetonSend-Offbeganlastyearasagesturebyarea Setonalumnitowishthenewestgraduatesluckasthey headofftocollegeortheworkplace.
send it in! Be sure to include your class year along with your accomplishment, accolade or other significant news item.
Email to Cindy Gould: CGould@SetonChS.org
SetonstudentstravelledtoSpainandFrancethispast summerandearnedcollegecreditaspartoftheClassroom WithoutWallsProgramthroughSeton hillUniversity. herethey arepicturedatthegrottoofourLadyofLourdesinsouthern France,oneofthemanyhighlightsoftheirtour.
Who is asked to support The Fund for Seton Catholic? All alumni and friends of Seton Catholic Prep.
What is it? The Fund for Seton Catholic is our annual giving program. It supports the operational budget of the school and helps to keep tuition manageable for our families. It helps to make up the difference between tuition revenue and what it actually costs to run Seton Catholic Prep.
When can contribute to The Fund for Seton Catholic? Solicitation is an ongoing process and coincides with our fiscal year, which begins on July 1. Our first mailing is sent in the fall, with follow-up in the spring. Gifts received through June 30th of 2011 will be credited to this year’s fund. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.
Why should support The Fund for Seton Catholic? If you are an alumnus, supporting the school with an annual gift is a way to give back and give thanks for the education you received as a student. For others, it is a way to ensure that a quality educational experience in keeping with the mission of our school is available for future generations.
The Fund for Seton Catholic serves to provide an annual opportunity for donors to make tax deductible gifts to the school to be used to support our educational programs. It enables Seton Catholic Prep to offer learning and teaching experiences that make a Seton education unique and exciting for the students. The goal of The Fund for Seton Catholic is to generate the resources to fund our school’s long term strategic goals that advance the mission of the school. Annual gifts help to pay teacher salaries and benefits; purchase updated teaching tools; enhance our educational technology and equipment; and more.
Giving to The Fund for Seton Catholic signifies your belief in the Seton legacy. Seton Catholic Prep is a strong community of faith, guided by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s charisms of Love, Courage, Faith and Determination. Our legacy of personal and academic excellence has endured and evolved since 1954, and with your financial support, it can continue. Thank you for considering a gift in support of Seton Catholic Preparatory high School. Every giftnocounts... matter the size. your support is helping students achieve their goals and move toward their full potential—personally, professionally and spiritually. For
Advancement.
$8,200,000 TOTAL COST
Seton Catholic Prep $1,000,000 Challenge 2010-2011
As the New Year begins, the Seton Catholic Prep community is blessed with steady progress on our new Academic/Fine Arts building. The Seton Catholic Capital Campaign Committee is excited to report that it has secured a $500,000 challenge grant from the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation. The Foundation will match all gifts and pledges to the campaign, up to $500,000, until December 31, 2011. These needed funds will pay for the interior building furnishings and equipment.
The new building is critical to our ability to expand and enhance our college preparatory curriculum, providing much needed educational and arts spaces for our students and faculty. Your contributions, large and small, are urgently needed to accomplish our goal this year. We invite you to join us in continuing to provide a premier high school experience for our young men and women.
$2,200,000 AFTER REACHING THE $1,000,000 GOAL for Fiscal Year (7/01/10 - 6/30/11)
$1,200,000 RAISED PRIOR TO THIS CAMPAIGN
$1,000,000
*Fixtures/Furniture/equipment Details Theater Seats
Acoustical/Theater/Multimedia, etc.
Computers/Printers etc.
Art/Dance/Music Rooms
Classroom/Offices - Furniture
Security System
Security Cameras
Lockers
PA system
Cabling
Network
Language Lab
Phones
Tax / Freight
TOTaL ......................................
$1,000,000
yearly awards honor those who live by Seton Catholic Prep’s ideals in all parts of their life
This year’s honorees were welcomed at the Eighth Annual Alumni Mass and hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held at Seton on Saturday, October 15th. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Chris Fraser ’89 and the induction ceremony was led by hall of Fame committee member and past inductee Paul S. Girvan, Jr. ’64. A reception followed in the lobby of the new Fine Arts & Academic Classroom Building, where Seton Ambassadors led alumni and friends on tours. honored at the event were:
It is with the deepest of gratitude that Seton wishes the best of luck and Godspeed to four staff members who retired over this past summer. With a combined total of 60 years of service to Seton (that’s more years than Seton has been in existence!), they have each left their own mark on our school and in our memories. We will be forever thankful for their devoted work and their loyalty to our mission.
Mary Ann Rich – Registrar (25 years)
Louann Walther – Administrative Assistant to the Principal (23 years)
Rudy Martinez – Spanish Teacher (8 years)
Karen Larson – Finance Department (4 years)
Ms. Susan Fleming
Art Teacher
The Seton community is proud of the accomplishments of these alumni and extends heartfelt congratulations and best wishes.
Ms. Fleming is a native to Arizona who majored in Art Education with a minor in Fine Arts; her bachelor’s degree is from ASU and master’s is from NAU. Ms. Fleming taught visual art courses for seven years within the Red Mountain high School Art Department (Mesa public schools). Prior to that, she taught for four years in the Scottsdale public schools. Those high school classes were predominately Photography (dry and wet lab), Digital Imaging /Graphic Arts, Ceramics, Drawing, & Basic Design.
Mrs. Brandy Martinez
Administrative Assistant to the Principal
Mrs. Brandy Martinez and her husband moved with their family from Austin, Texas this past summer. They have two daughters. Though a true Austinite, Mrs. Martinez and her family have also lived in Naperville, Illinois, and Frisco, Texas. Mrs. Martinez’s work experience includes ten years at Motorola, working as an executive assistant and working at her daughters’ schools in Austin. She has enjoyed volunteering and working with youth programs, including coaching youth softball and basketball, being an elementary substitute teacher, a Religious Education teacher for second graders receiving their First Communion, and Girl Scout leader. Most of her time away from Seton is spent with her husband watching their daughters play sports! When asked how she liked Seton Catholic Prep, she said, “I feel as if I am where should be.” Welcome Brandy!
Mrs. Lucille Ruchensky
Advancement Associate
Mrs. Ruchensky is no stranger to Seton! her son Jared graduated from Seton in 2010, and is now attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. During her years as a parent at Seton—and beyond—Lucille has worn many hats as a volunteer, helping out in the lunchroom, for the counseling department and drama department. until recently she volunteered in the Advancement Office and has now joined that staff on a part-time basis. Lucille and her husband Michael moved to the East valley from the Kansas City area six years ago. Their older son Eric is in his third year of law school at ASu. Lucille and Michael reside in Chandler.
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011
Fiesta Resort Conference Center Tempe, Arizona
This fundraising event provides community awareness of the excellence in education at Seton Catholic Preparatory High School and raises vital funds for enrichment programs for the students of Seton Catholic Prep.
The evening begins with a Silent Auction and Cocktails at 5:00 pm followed by Dinner and Live Auction!
Tickets will be available online through the Seton website at www.SetonCatholic.org
An appreciative Coach Maier and the Seton baseball program extended their gratitude to players and parents who volunteered this past April in support of the Special Olympics. While it was truly a rewarding experience for the volunteers, most importantly our participation greatly contributed to the success of the track and field events, and ensured
an exciting and fun experience for the participants. It is important to note that the Special Olympics officials were very appreciative of and impressed with the contribution of the Seton team and especially of how the players conducted themselves. The parents, the baseball program, and the entire Seton community have much to be proud of.
Parents and friends of Seton can help financially by just shopping like normal
Did you know that you can help Seton…
• by simply buying your groceries or putting gas in your car?
• or by purchasing gift cards for birthdays, holidays, or just because?
• or by shopping for that book you’ve always wanted to read or that pair of shoes you’ve had your eye on?
• or by enjoying dinner at your favorite restaurant?
The possibilities are endless…read on!
SCRIP is a nationally recognized program for non-profit organizations to raise funds for their cause within their community. SCRIP is an acronym for Substitute Cash Redeem In Person.
Seton Catholic Prep has one of the most successful SCRIP programs in the East valley. Just last year, Seton families reloaded SCRIP cards with over $1 million at Fry’s and Basha’s grocery stores, resulting in a return of $85,000 back to Seton! half of this return goes to help with the operations of the school and half goes to help families with tuition or to a specified school department of the purchaser’s choice! It is a win-win program and you can be a part of it.
Reloadable Fry’s and Basha’s grocery store cards give a 6% return to Seton. What a wonderful way to give back with money you are already spending at these stores! In addition, Fry’s allows you purchase other store’s gift cards and fuel with your reloadable card! Think of gift cards as cash, not just for gift-giving. Consider buying a Starbucks or Shell gift card at Fry’s with your reloadable card—and then use those cards to buy your next latte or to fill up your tank! Can you imagine the possibilities? you don’t have to have a current student at Seton in order to participate— the program is open to alumni, friends and family of the entire Seton community. visit www.setoncatholic.org for more information and a complete list of participating vendors. you can use the form below to order reloadable Fry’s (Kroger, Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, Smith’s) or Basha’s (AJ’s Fine Foods, Food City, Eddie’s Country Store) gift cards—which you can then use to purchase other vendor’s gift cards carried by these stores. Or visit the Seton website, choose a card, and send us a check—we’ll mail the card directly to you.
If you would be willing to use a reloadable Fry’s or Basha’s card on behalf of Seton, please return this form and we’ll send you one. If you see something else on our website that you’d like to purchase, please indicate below, include a check for the face value (see list on the website for denominations offered) and send to us. We’ll return your card(s) to the address you provide. SCRIP can also be purchased directly through our website.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
____Fry’s ____Basha’s ____Other:
Please designate profits to:
Mail to: Seton Catholic Prep SCRIP/Spirit Store • 1150 N. Dobson Road • Chandler, Az 85224
Seton Senior Cedric Santos helps poor Filipino children by spearheading an outreach project
During the summer of 2011, Seton senior Cedric Santos headed to the Philippines for a short visit, as he has done many times in the past. This year, he visited the Montemaria Shrine in the city of Alfonso, Cavite, which is one of the projects of the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, where miraculous healings are said to have occurred. Cedric attended a healing mass there and was so touched by the messages he heard from the priests that he was inspired to do something that would make a difference. understanding the financial struggles of the country and recognizing the tremendous difficulties in receiving an education there, Cedric took it upon himself to create an outreach project to gather school supplies for Filipino children. Pictured are piles of supplies collected thus far in a testament to his success.
Cedric has clearly embodied the mission of Seton Catholic Preparatory high School through this project by assuming a leadership role and giving of himself in loving service to others. In a letter that he wrote to ask for donations of school supplies he writes, “Education is one of the most important things that you can give a child and by providing them with the tools they need, you can help that child display his or her Godgiven talents to the rest of the world.” The Seton community is proud of Cedric and students like him whose hearts and minds are moved toward change in our world.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation and the Montemaria Shrine, visit the Foundation website at www.marymotherofthepoor.org
The Admission Office has moved—to the brand new Fine Arts and Academic Classroom Building! As Director of Admission, I would like to extend an open invitation to the entire Seton community to come and experience our new digs. I would be happy to show you around and give you a tour of the new 400 seat black box theatre, music and dance rooms and our new SCT v studio.
Our community is truly blessed to have this impressive new facility.
Once again, another fantastic admission season has produced a strong, well-engaged freshman class. We are all very excited about the personal quality, diversity and overall academic strength of the class of 2015. These students will continue the Seton Catholic Prep tradition of laying a strong and unique foundation for all who follow.
FOR OCT. 22 9:00aM
With the class of 2015 well ensconced, we are now looking forward to the next admission season and to meeting all the candidates for the class of 2016.
As always, the Admission Office continues to identify ways to improve the admission process in order to better serve our prospective families as they progress through the school identification process.
As in years past, we will offer two application options for our families. The first will be an online application that will offer the ability for each family to directly track their application progress from start to finish. The second is the physical application which can be easily obtained by calling or emailing a request.
During our primary recruitment
season, September – January, we continue to host students from all of our feeder schools and a strong number from the greater community as well. Our shadow days are filling up very nicely. To date we have scheduled a total of 17, consisting of 15 students per visit. Please visit our website at www.setoncatholic.org for all the available dates. Additionally, I have started school visitations where I am given the opportunity to talk with seventh and eighth grade students about the possibilities for them at Seton Catholic Prep. Save the date for Seton Catholic Prep’s Open house. The annual Open house will take place this year on Saturday, October 22nd from 9:00 am to noon. Please join us that day for a campus tour, including the new stateof-the-art performing facility and classrooms, and an opportunity to meet our faculty and staff.
Prospective parents and students are always welcome on campus. Choosing the school that will best serve your family, both in and out of the classroom, is one of the most important decisions parents will make during the course of their child’s education. It is important for you to know that we are always happy to welcome families to our campus to learn more about our school and how we can serve your child and family in preparation for college. We feel very strongly about supporting all families throughout the admission process and appreciate the time you take away from a busy day to come and learn more about us. We will make sure we are here to welcome you.
Principal Patricia Collins was pleased to announce the appointment in July of Mr. David Sorkin as the new assistant principal at Seton. David most recently served as the Dean of Students at Providence Academy, a Catholic Independent School for grades pre-Kindergarten through 12 in Plymouth, Minnesota.
he brings to Seton his experiences with curriculum and has served as a teacher and department chair. As assistant principal, David will be responsible for supervision of the faculty and oversight of the academic and summer programs. he will work closely with the administrative team to further Seton’s mission of providing a premier college preparatory Catholic education for students in the east valley. David received his bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College and his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. he has relocated to Arizona with his wife Kelly and their two sons, Aaron and Eli, ages 5 and 3. The Seton Catholic Prep community welcomes them to Chandler.
The final Chandler All Alumni and Retiree Reunion (Seton Catholic Preparatory high School and Chandler high Schools) will be held on Saturday evening, April 28, 2012, in the San Marcos Pavilion from 7:00pm to midnight. The evening will include a band (8:00 PM), dancing, hors d’oeuvres, open bar, slide show of previous reunions, raffle drawings, reminiscing with old classmates, and just having a good time. There will also be an afternoon storytelling event for any “classic” stories that now can be told.
For more information: visit www.celebratechandler2012.com or call Elaine Bartell at 602-363-5811 or contact Ann Debold Ayala, Seton alumnus Class of 1969, at abmdayala@cox.net.
Todevelopanawarenessandunderstandingofcurrentsocialandmoralissuesthatchallengeteens.
Kevin’s Last Walk - A Father’s Final Journey with His Son
Our lives are defined by how we respond to adversity. Barry Adkins describes how one night of binge drinking by his son, Kevin, impacted his life and how he responded to it. In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse and to make “something very good come from the death of his son,” he walked from Arizona to Montana telling his story. Barry has been featured in numerous television, radio and newspaper articles.
Seton Parent and Pinal County Superior Court Judge, Steve McCarville, will also join us to briefly discuss the criminal and civil liability parents and students face when hosting or attending parties where alcohol is present.
Barry Adkins is the Author of Kevin’s Last Walk, A Father’s Final Journey with His Son. Barry grew up in Kalispell, Montana. After graduating from high school, Barry worked on commercial fishing boats in Alaska until he moved to Arizona where he now resides with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Mike McCoy’s passion is empowering youth and helping them develop a larger vision for their lives. Mike will deliver a faith-based message of hope and encouragement to our students that will help them be morally focused, overcome challenges and deal with peer pressure to develop the self-confidence to achieve true success. During the evening program Mike will ask the parents the question, “Who are your children’s friends?” followed by a discussion that no Seton parent should miss.
Mike McCoy is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Cathedral Prep High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics where he played football and was a Consensus All-American. He was chosen UPI Lineman of the Year and was sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting his senior year. He was the #1 draft choice of the Green Bay Packers where he played defensive tackle. He played eleven years in the NFL – seven with Green Bay, two with the Oakland Raiders and two with the New York Giants. Mike and his wife Kia live in Jefferson, GA and are the parents of four children.
Did That Just Happen?
Making Sense of the Fantasy and Reality of Movies, Television, Video Games, and Facebook
Matt Smith is the director of Internet Ministries for Life Teen, the international Catholic youth ministry based in Phoenix. Matt graduated with a degree in industrial design from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Since bringing a Christian witness as a star on MTV’s Real World and Road Rules Challenge, Matt has traveled the country speaking at colleges, high schools, and Catholic parishes.
When he is not writing about his Catholic faith on www.lifeteen.com and catholicyouthministry.com, Matt writes for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Matt and his wife have two children, Eleanor, and Stella.
This program is a special event for the entire family to share together in our new Black Box Theatre. Judy McDonald has been a professional comedianne for 16 years but a Catholic for all her life. Judy uses her sense of humor as a vehicle to evangelize to the young and not so young. Song writer Tom Booth writes, “She is funny. Actually, she is very funny, and she gets people laughing.”
An alumnus of University of San Diego, Judy has been performing stand-upsince 1994. In college, she worked at KFMB studios in radio and television. She also worked for the Republican National Convention, the Commission on Presidential Debates and the Academy Awards.
Judy’s professional comedic experience includes an appearance on the Dennis Miller show, the weather channel and opening for such comedians as Paula Poundstone, Mark Curry, Caroline Rea and Mitch Hedberg. She performs at corporate and private events, and universities is a regular at the La Jolla Comedy Store in San Diego.
There will NOT be a separate student assembly. This program is for the entire family and will begin at 7:00pm in the Black Box Theatre.
1150 North Dobson Road
Chandler, Az 85224-4004 www.SetonCatholic.org
Homecoming Football Game
October 14 vs. valley Christian
8th Annual Alumni Mass and Hall of Fame Induction
October 15
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel and Fine Arts Building Lobby Register at www.SetonCatholic.org
Drama Department Variety Show and Fall Play Variety Show
October 13
Fall Play – “Hercules”
October 21,22,23,28,29
Prospective Student Open House
October 22
All Souls Mass
November 1
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel For information on making a gift in memory of a loved one for All Souls Day, visit the Seton website at www.SetonCatholic.org
24th Annual Seton After Dark Dinner & Auction “Magic of the Orient”
For details on campus events, visit www.SetonCatholic.org
Order SCRIP in the Seton Spirit Store!
Located next to the Seton Library Open: M-Th 7:30-8:30 am & 2:30-3:30 pm Fri. 7:30-8:30 am & 12:30-1:30 pm SAVE THE DATE!
November 5
Fiesta Resort Conference Center – Tempe See page 11 for details and sponsorship opportunities
Seton Admissions Interviews Begin
December 1
Call the Admissions Office to Schedule!
Drama Department Holiday Fine Arts Night
December 1 and 8
High School Placement Test
January 7
Seton Admissions Application Deadline January 31