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Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Letter From The Principal

Welcome back to Carondelet High School! Welcome to the Class of 2014! The summer has been a wonderful time to get a little R&R, catch up on some reading, visit with family and friends, take a little time off from our household tasks and enjoy this beautiful season. With late summer comes the beginning of another academic year and the remainder of the planning for its success. Before we know it, we will be observing a crispness in the air and leaves changing color, indicating that fall is approaching.
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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to Carondelet High School! Welcome to the Class of 2014! The summer has been a wonderful time to get a little R&R, catch up on some reading, visit with family and friends, take a little time off from our household tasks and enjoy this beautiful season. With late summer comes the beginning of another academic year and the remainder of the planning for its success. Before we know it, we will be observing a crispness in the air and leaves changing color, indicating that fall is approaching.

Our faculty and staff returned the second week of August, attending meetings and retreats, preparing for the rigor of the 2010-2011 year. The buzz in the faculty room is a sure indication that our teachers are just as excited as our students!

Thank you, frosh parents, for attending the Orientation on Sunday, August 15. It was good to meet so many of you. My hope is that you will be as energized and engaged as your daughters are while they attend Carondelet High School. We love to see you here participating at various events and meetings. Now that we have you as part of the Carondelet family, frosh moms and dads, you will be joining the sophomore parents at Back to School Night on Thursday, September 9, for a dinner meeting followed by the traditional BTSN when you visit your daughters’ classes.

The dinner is reserved for frosh and soph parents only because the Counseling Department will be making a presentation, and we are asking you to be here by 6pm. You will be finished in time to attend a general meeting at 7pm, and then on to the classroom presentations. We have the same schedule as De La Salle High School for that evening, so if your daughter has a class on their campus, please make sure that she indicates that on the schedule that she gives you.

This year, Carondelet High School is celebrating its 45^th anniversary. We have much to be thankful for and Sr. Kathleen Lang, CSJ, our President, and the Alumnae Office have planned an Open House for the 22^nd of August. We will have a special schedule to accommodate a school celebration on September 7, beginning with Liturgy at 9am.

Please remind your daughters that the Garaventa Center is the place on the campus to go to prior to 7:45am on school days. This year, we will pilot having the CHS library be open until 5pm on Mondays – Thursdays. We hope this will help students in their endeavor to accomplish school work.

Our sophomores and seniors will begin their retreats in September. Please pray for them as they strive to understand what life has to offer them and how they can apply what they have learned. The Welcome Dance is set for Friday, September 10. More information will be forthcoming in this newsletter through our Student Activities Director.

Carondelet High School is a great place for a young woman’s education. Our classes and activities are student-centered and mission-driven. I welcome your ideas in this venture.

May you enjoy these high school years along with your daughter,

Sincerely,

Teri Hurlbut, Ed. D.
Principal
From The Assistant Principal

Who can believe it? The 2010 - 2011 school year is just around the corner. Summer and all that rest, relaxation and fun is over for another year. I am excited to get back in the “groove” of all we do here at Carondelet. I am always impressed with everyone’s friendliness, hard work and positive attitude. Special WELCOME to the Class of 2014 …. And welcome back to the very motivated Class of 2011!! Senior Year,here we come! (and, yes, I am looking forward to seeing the Sophomores and Juniors, too)!
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Who can believe it? The 2010 - 2011 school year is just around the corner. Summer and all that rest, relaxation and fun is over for another year. I am excited to get back in the “groove” of all we do here at Carondelet. I am always impressed with everyone’s friendliness, hard work and positive attitude. Special WELCOME to the Class of 2014 …. And welcome back to the very motivated Class of 2011!! Senior Year here we come! (and, yes, I am looking forward to seeing the Sophomores and Juniors too)!

Student schedules are available on Power School. Please note that the deadline to change classes (June 15) has passed. However, once classes start, students do have the option to request a change if a class is too challenging. A student should see her advisor to ask if this is possible. This type of change must be made by Wednesday, September 1 at 3:00 PM.

Since we now have PowerSchool access for everyone, students and parents can keep track of academic progress from the beginning of the year. (We do expect that everyone is checking grades regularly … weekly seems about right! Several times a day is too much)! If there are questions about a grade, students should contact the teacher immediately. If you still do not have your PowerSchool log-in information, please contact JoAnn DiDonato in the main office (686-5353 x. 177) to get this. Please be reminded that teachers have two weeks from the due date to post grades for assignments and/or tests.

Students should actively seek help from teachers if they are experiencing difficulty. Every teacher is open to working with students who need additional assistance. And of course, Academic Advisors are available every day when needed. Please encourage your daughter to talk with her Academic Advisor at the first sign of difficulty with her classes. (Frosh – Sophomore Advisor: Ms. Harris; Juniors and Seniors: Sr. Anne Eugene) They are here to problem solve, help with study skills and general advice. No need to wait until a student feels totally overwhelmed.

Back-to-School-Night will be held on Thursday, September 9th, at 7:00 pm, with an important message from Dr. Hurlbut at 7:00 in the Garaventa for parents. We encourage you to come early, as parking can be quite challenging with so many parents attending from both campuses and limited parking is available.

Again, there will be no progress reports mailed home this year, as all parents and students have access to their grades on PowerSchool. We will send home a report card at the end of the first and 3rd quarter, however, as these grades are used in determining athletic eligibility and activity participation for the next quarter.

Semester grades (January/June) are grades posted to the official transcript of grades and are retained in your daughter’s permanent cumulative file. These are also the determining grades in meeting pre-requisites for courses in which your daughter pre-registers in future years at Carondelet. Any semester F grades must be made up before continuing enrollment at Carondelet for the following year is allowed. Students who attended summer school of any kind (including on-line independent study courses) must request that official transcripts be sent to our registrar’s office in order to have the grade(s) for these courses posted on their transcript. Please note that any courses taken off campus, at any time, are not recorded in the Carondelet GPA.

Don’t hesitate to give me a call at any time if I can be of service! I am here to help ensure your daughter’s success at CHS and beyond. I look forward to talking with you!

Nancy Libby
Assistant Principal
From The Deans

Welcome Back!

We hope your summer was relaxing and filled with adventure all at the same time.
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Welcome Back!

We hope your summer was relaxing and filled with adventure all at the same time.

If you are new to the Carondelet Community Welcome … Please feel free to call the Deans with any questions regarding parking, drop off and pickup of students, behavior or uniform guidelines (CHS Handbook pages 21-25) or any other questions about what to do if your daughter is ill or has an appointment with a health care provider during the school day. (CHS Handbook Pages 18 & 19.) The extension to reach the Deans’ Office is 115.

As you probably have already heard we have a new uniform policy for Fridays this year. The guidelines are on page 24 under “Non-uniform Fridays.” This is a very limited and complete list of what may be worn. Please encourage your daughters to see the Deans if they are not sure if an item of clothing they are considering for Fridays is appropriate. Detentions will be given on Fridays for out of dress code violations.
Campus Ministry

Summer greetings and welcome to our 2010-2011 school year! Things are abuzz in the Campus Ministry Office as we begin our year together.

First, I would like to introduce myself, Ms. Theresa A. Thibodeaux, as the new Director of Campus Ministry at CHS. I am very excited to be a part of this beautiful community ...
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Summer greetings and welcome to our 2010-2011 school year! Things are abuzz in the Campus Ministry Office as we begin our year together.

First, I would like to introduce myself, Ms. Theresa A. Thibodeaux, as the new Director of Campus Ministry at CHS. I am very excited to be a part of this beautiful community. I come to CHS with a variety of experiences in ministry. Several years ago I directed Campus Ministry at another high school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Lakewood, CA. The CSJ commitment to helping women become all of which they are capable is a mission I hold as deeply important. A product of a CSJ sponsored education myself, I know how powerful and transforming the charisms of this community can be. Most recently I served as the Director of Young Adult Ministry and Ministerio con jovenes adolescents in the Office of Religious Education (ORE) with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For those of you familiar with the annual Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA, the ORE is responsible for the coordination of this event. I hold a Masters Degree in Religious Education from Boston College, and feel called to be an advocate for the voices of youth and young adults in the Catholic community. I look forward to being a part of the Campus Ministry Team, working with Mrs. Mondello and the Spiritual Life Council, and I look forward to meeting you soon!

As we focus on our year together there are several traditional Campus Ministry events to be aware of:

CHS Anniversary Celebration - Tuesday, September 7^th we will celebrate the beginning of the school’s 45^th anniversary year with an all school liturgy. Dress uniform is mandatory on this day.

Sophomore Retreats begin in September. Each Religious Studies class goes as a group on a Tuesday to the Diocesan Youth Retreat Center in Lafayette for a day of fun directed by Sr. Joann Heinritz, Carondelet’s Director of Spirituality and Mission. Information and permission forms will be sent home via your daughter’s Religious Studies teacher.

The first senior Kairos Retreat is scheduled for September 14-16. Students board a bus for San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville at 3pm on Tuesday and return to school by 6pm on Thursday. Please keep us in your prayers during the next few weeks as we prepare for this time of retreat. In early August an important informational letter regarding the retreat was sent to parents whose daughters are scheduled to attend the September retreat. Please call the Campus Ministry Office at ext.167 if you did not receive one.

Kairos Retreat Registration is ongoing with spots still available for the April retreat. Registration forms are available in the Campus Ministry Office. Completed forms and a $50 nonrefundable registration fee should be turned in to Ms. Thibodeaux. The remaining $200 balance for the retreat can be paid off whenever you like prior to the retreat. Please talk with Ms. Thibodeaux if financial assistance is needed.

Mark your calendar now for the annual Mother Daughter Liturgy/Brunch on Sunday, October 3, beginning at 10:30am. This is a wonderful way to celebrate our shared womanhood. If a mom is not available to attend, we encourage our students to invite another adult woman from her family who has been her nurturer and mentor. In the spring we will provide an opportunity for Dads and Daughters to share the same type of experience. Additional information regarding this event will be forthcoming from the Parent Association.

Once again this fall Carondelet and De La Salle Campus Ministries are offering junior and senior students an opportunity to participate in a fall mission immersion experience called Ven a Ver, working in Salinas with migrant families and homeless people at a Dorothy Day House of Hospitality. Applications to be part of this experience in mid-October are available in the Campus Ministry Office. Selection of students for the experience will be made in early September.

The Campus Ministry Office is located just inside the senior hallway door that leads to the Garaventa Center. You are always welcome to drop by and introduce yourself. We look forward to seeing you!
College and Career Center

Tips for Seniors, Important Fall Dates, College Information Evening, College Application Workshop, ACT and SAT Testing, College Planning Tips for Juniors, Scholarships, and much more...
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College Planning Tips for Seniors

The college selection process is about finding a match that best suits each student and her family. Entering senior year with a potential list of colleges does much to facilitate the process. To assist with the college application process, all seniors have accounts on Naviance, our online college search and planning resource. In preparation for college and scholarship applications and letters of recommendation, students should fill out the About Me sections on Naviance as well as the teacher recommendation and counselor supplement forms. Naviance access codes are available in the College & Career Center for students who have misplaced their registration information.

Important Fall Dates for Seniors and Parents of Seniors

This Fall Mrs. Breazeale and Mrs. Susich will be meeting with seniors in groups, in class meetings, and individually to help them with their post-Carondelet plans. Seniors and parents of seniors will also be invited to evening presentations on the college admissions process and on financial aid.

· August 17 -- Seniors receive an introductory college planning packet

· September 29 -- Senior College meeting at 8:15 am (Wednesday / early start)

· During September – Seniors receive counseling and red college binders in group meetings

· September 30 -- College Informational Evening for Parents of Seniors at 7:00 pm / Garaventa Center

· October 13 –Senior college application and essay workshops 8:15 am to noon

· October 1 - November 30 -- Priority filing deadline for CSUs

· November 1-30 -- Priority filing deadline for UCs

· December 7 -- Joint CHS/DLS Financial Aid Evening at 7:00 pm / Garaventa Center

College Informational Evening for Parents of Seniors

The College & Career Center will be hosting an informational evening for parents of seniors on Thursday, September 30, at 7:00 pm in the Garaventa Center. The program is the third in a series of four workshops for parents. Specifically, this workshop is intended to help parents navigate the senior year. Navigating the Senior Year is Carondelet’s multimedia presentation which will provide the most recent application and financial information from the Fall counselor conferences. We encourage all parents of seniors to attend. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

College Application Workshops for Seniors

On October 13, while juniors and sophomores are testing, step-by-step online college application workshops will be conducted for seniors. College Counselors will demonstrate the correct way to complete online applications for UC, CSU, and independent colleges. To ensure accuracy, the counselors will supervise seniors as they enter information from their transcripts. Entering incorrect information may prevent a student from being considered for admission. On this same day, students may also attend essay workshops, thereby learning how to most accurately address the essay prompts and to distinguish themselves from other applicants. Sign-ups for these workshops will be available in September.

ACT and SAT Testing

Seniors should complete the required college entrance tests this Fall. Almost all four-year colleges and universities require that students submit the official results of standardized tests if students are applying from high school. Please refer to the student planner and the CHS website to review registration information, dates, and deadlines for the upcoming ACT and SAT tests. Preparation for ACT and SAT tests is available to all seniors through their Naviance accounts / Method Test Prep.

College Planning Tips for Juniors

College planning and junior year seem to walk hand and hand. Juniors can best prepare for learning beyond high school by engaging in their classes. It is most useful to begin the college process from the inside by focusing first on the student and exploring her learning style, her educational objectives, and her personality to discover what type of college environment will be the best match for her, rather than focusing on the external process which can be clouded by myths and rumor. This is a time when students and parents can take charge of the process of finding the best match by investigating the “personalities” of colleges, by visiting campuses, using the internet, and taking advantage of the resources in the College & Career Center.

In January, Mrs. Breazeale and Mrs. Susich will conduct two informational sessions for juniors and their parents to review the steps and timeline of the college application process and to interpret the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) results. PSAT results come with detailed feedback and information that students should use to prepare for spring SAT testing. Juniors are advised to register for spring ACT and SAT tests. Refer to the CHS website or student planner for dates, deadlines, and online registration information.

Robert Massa, Vice President of Enrollment at Dickson College, advises “Answers to these three simple questions – how do you learn; how do you interact; and what are your educational goals - will help you understand yourself, and represent the first step in selecting the right set of colleges.” Juniors might consider the following questions:

· How do I learn best? Am I an independent learner or do I need direction?

· Do I prefer a structured or unstructured learning environment?

· How do I interact with others? Am I an initiator or a follower?

· What causes stress in my life and what results in enjoyment and productivity?

· What are my general educational objectives? What do I enjoy learning about?

· Am I more verbal, enjoying more subjective areas such as literature or history, or do I prefer the more quantitative “concrete” areas of study.

· Am I more comfortable in a nurturing or competitive environment?

· Would I prefer a rural, suburban, or metropolitan environment?

· Would I be more comfortable in a diverse or homogeneous environment?

PLAN prep for sophomores & PSAT prep for juniors

With an early 8:15 a.m. start on Wednesday, September 29, all juniors and all sophomores will receive their PSAT prep materials or PLAN materials. All juniors have been registered to take the PSAT at school on Wednesday, October 13, and all sophomores have been registered to take the PLAN test at school on Wednesday, October 13. Both the PSAT and PLAN will begin at 8:15 am and finish by 11:45 am. There will be no classes that day.

Sophomores or juniors who have questions about PLAN or PSAT testing or about testing with extended time, please contact CHS Educational Resource Specialist, Ms. Karen Denne at ext.184 or by email kdenne@carondeleths.org.

Scholarships

Listed below are a few of the scholarships available in the College and Career Center. Seniors, be sure to check Naviance for the complete list. It is also useful for parents to check for scholarship opportunities with their employer and with any organizations that they belong to.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriotic Audio Essay Competition

Deadline: 11/1/2010

For grades 9-12

www.vfw.org

Wendy’s High School Heisman Award

Deadline: 10/3/2010

For grade 11 student-athletes

www.wendysheisman.com

Linda Breazeale and Neville Susich

College Counselors
Carondelet Tuition Reminders

For All Parents:

Your daughter’s tuition must be current; June, July and August payments must be posted for your daughter to begin school!
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For All Parents:

Your daughter’s tuition must be current; June, July and August payments must be posted for your daughter to begin school!

It is Carondelet High School policy that your daughter will not be allowed to start class if tuition is not current. This policy is in effect for the whole school year.

Tuition MUST BE current for your daughter to attend school.

Smart Tuition Reminders:

Please remember if you are mailing payments to Smart Tuition, the payment must be to Smart by the 1^st of the month or you will incur a late fee!

It’s not too late to change your Smart account to an EFT withdrawal to make monthly payments even easier. Call Smart @ 1-888 868-8828 if you wish to change to and EFT withdrawal or use a charge card to pay tuition.

If you choose to use a charge card @ Smart there will be a 2.5% fee.
Development Department News

Visions of Christmas 2010 - "Simply Christmas"
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Bringing together the talents represented in the Carondelet community is what Visions of Christmas is all about! Please join our team of interesting and talented parents who put together this fabulous extravaganza called Visions of Christmas. This year we are looking for people to chair or co-chair the following committees: The Christmas Fest, Boutique, Senior Suitcase, Sports, and Wine. For more information, please contact the Development Office at 925-686-5353 ext. 151 for Kathleen or ext. 153 for Marybeth.
CHS SISTERHOOD!!!

Looking back and looking forward. The latest from ASB.
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Looking back, the freshmen were welcomed into the new school year by their Peer Counselors. Orientation was a breeze when the ASB leaders assisted freshmen through their assembly lines. Kudos to ASB Special Events Commissioners Alyse Cronin and Alexa Cavallo, for “wowing” the freshmen and introducing them to the spirit of Carondelet during the Frosh Rally. The Frosh Rally, is a shortened version of our Welcome and Spirit Rally, is an opportunity for the freshmen to watch the Dance Team perform, learn their class chant, and bond with other freshmen. The Frosh Mixer, which was held at Carondelet, was a huge hit! This Mixer is always a favorite of the freshman class because they finally get to meet and dance with the boys from across the street.

Looking forward, this year’s theme is......

“Unity and Reconcilition”. The goal for the leadership class, i.e. the CIA- “Cougars in Action” which is comprised of all class councils, ASB council and Spiritual Life Council, is to further unite the Adminstration/Faculty and student body through positive communication and events/activities.

Let’s get ready for a fun and spirited school year! Be sure to mark your calendars with the following events:

« Frosh Leadership Team Packets Available: Freshman BBQ - August 30th

« Frosh Leadership Team Packets Due: August 31^st

« Frosh Leadership Team Meeting: September 1^st @ lunch in the SAC

« Welcome Back rally practice: September 8 in the Gym @ 8:00 a.m.

« Welcome Back rally @ CHS and Dance @ DLS: September 10

« Welcome Back Dance is a joined dance with DLS and will be located in the DLS quad. Tickets are $8 and will go on sale September 7.

« Club Fair: September 22

Let’s give a shout out to our class moderators...

Senior-Jenny Lambert and Jenni Mammola

Junior- Hayley Standberg and Katie Almonte

Sophomore - Lisa Reddam

Freshman – Stephanie Mondello
CHS Library Extends Hours

Carondelet Library is happy to announce new extended hours for the 2010-2011 school year!
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Carondelet Library is happy to announce new extended hours for the 2010-2011 school year! The library will stay open until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Fridays we will be open from 7:45 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. The library opens at 7:45 a.m.., except all late start Wednesdays when it opens at 8:45 a.m. Students who are on campus after regular school hours are encouraged to come to the library to do homework, study or use the computers.
Senior Council

Senior Council would like to welcome back the senior class and all CHS students! After an invigorating leadership retreat beginning on campus and ending in Marine World, the Senior Council members are ready to begin a new school year. Plans are in the works for the senior skit that will be performed at the Welcome Back Rally this month. The Council is also excited about the cleverly designed senior t-shirts and sweatshirts that they distributed at Orientation. The class theme this year is “Now Our Lives are Technicolor.” Let the year begin!
Sophomore Class News

Soph News--
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The Sophomore Class of 2013 is excited to start the year in a familiar place with familiar faces. There is much in store this year, including dances, rallies, and ordering junior rings, and the sophomores will continue to make their mark on Carondelet.

I encourage all of you to take some risks this year by making some new friends, trying a new activity, practicing kindness to both your friends and other members of our community, and making positive, healthy choices. Make some goals for yourself as you start the year and have fun while you work to achieve them!

Let's have a terrific year!

Ms. Lisa Reddam

Sophomore Class Moderator

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