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MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL
“shining the light on coming events”
Mater Dei High School in the Diocese of Orange, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, believes every person, as a child of God, regardless of race, condition, or age, has equal dignity and an inalienable right to an education. Therefore, no qualified student will be denied admission to this school on the basis of sex, race, color, or national origin.
December 2009 Parent Newsletter Vol. XXIV, No. 4
GUIDANCE COLUMNDATES TO REMEMBER
Dec. 5 SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Mater Dei
Dec. 12 ACT Assessment 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Mater Dei Register at www.ACT.org
Dec. 15 Registration Deadline for Jan. 23 SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests
Jan. 5 Registration Deadline for Feb. 6 ACT Assessment
Take the ACT Assessment with the writing portion if planning to attend a UC.
Jan. 6 College Financial Aid Night meeting in the LeVecke Center, 7:00 p.m. You will be walked through all four pages of the FAFSA form.
Monthly counseling news is available on our website at www.materdei.org/guidance.
Financial Aid for College: Independent (Private) Colleges and Universities usually require the “Profile.” This form is available online at www.collegeboard.com. The California Public Universities do not require the “Profile.” They use the Federal form called “FAFSA,” which will be available at our Financial Aid Night, Jan. 6. The FAFSA cannot be completed until January 2010. If you have questions, please contact your student’s counselor.
Other College Financial Need Information:www.csac.ca.gov - For California Student Aid Commission Scholarship Information on the web. Approximately 10% of graduating seniors receive Cal Grant A. www.csumentor.edu – For information on the 23 California State Universities.www.ucop.edu/pathways – For information on the nine University of California campuses.www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org – For free scholarship information.
Princeton Review will be coming on campus for tutoring. For more information, call Princeton Review at (949) 553-9411.
The University of California campuses (the UC’s) require either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment with writing, and two SAT Subject Tests from two different disciplines, i.e. Foreign Language, Math Level 2C, Science, and History.
The Lumen
Christmas at the CornerSunday, December 6, 2009
5:00 PM - GrottoAdmission is free
Performances by Mater Dei Band, Color Guard, Choir, Hand Bells,
Dance and Theatre Living Nativity - Christmas Carols
Strolling Dickens Carolers - Holiday Boutique - Cookie Bar - Hot Cocoa
Toy Drive - Benefitting Monarchs 4 Marines. Please bring new unwrapped toys.
For more information contact Karen Pescetti in Mater Dei’s Performing Arts Department at (714) 957-3784 or [email protected] visit us at www.materdei.org/christmas
Father/Daughter Dance
“Winter Wonderland”
Friday, December 11 - 7-10pm
Tickets are $40 for 1 daughter and
$50 for 2 or more daughters
Tickets go on sale beginningWednesday, Dec 2 at lunch
in Shamrock Plaza
For more information contact Karen Pescetti in Mater Dei’s Performing Arts Department at (714) 957-3784 or
Nationally Award Winning Mater Dei Choirsaccompanied by a full professional orchestra
December 17, 18, 19 - 6:30 P.M.Chapman University
Beckman Hall
Ticket Prices$60 – Reception, Dinner and Concert $40 – Choir Alumni Night – December 17 $15 – Concert Only, All Nights
Tickets available for purchase now in our Choir Room. For more information visit our
website at www.materdeiorg/choiror call Mr. Scott Melvin at (714) 850-9559.
Christmas OutreachCampus Ministry has a number of
organizations the Mater Dei community can support this Christmas.
Catholic Charities children’s gifts
Catholic Worker socks, slippers and blankets
Monarchs 4 Marines
stockings and children’s gifts(Christmas at the Corner)
Thomas Shelter 100 stockings and adopt a family
Needy of OCKid Works
gift cards for teens
Mary’s Shelter baby supplies
Urban Compass children’s Christmas party
SPIN adopt a family
Please deliver all donations to Campus Ministry by Tuesday,
December 15, 2009.
Muth Family Learning CenterCommunication Is Key....
At this holiday time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the triumph of a guiding light in the darkness. Tis the season of communicating a message of clarity, love and hope for all people in the world.
How nice it would be if we took the time all year long to communicate well with others and to say what is on our mind in a positive fashion. There are students who seem fearful of speaking with their teachers. It could be that they don’t want to disappoint an important adult in their lives. It could also be an uncomfortable situation, asking for help or clarification, especially when other students seem to “get it”.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, U.S. President during most of World War II said, “There is nothing to fear but fear, itself!” Once students can bridge this communication gap with adults, each other and their parents/guardians they report feeling relief and a sense of partnership in the learning process.
The Learning Center is open for constructive communication among the Mater Dei High School community. The door is open. There is no stigma attached to asking questions and seeking assistance. Every problem has a solution. It often takes courage to look for ways to solve problems, especially when solutions are not clear or easy.
The MDHS “Expected Schoolwide Learning Results – the ESLRs” guide students to become “effective communicators” in speaking, writing, listening, thinking, processing information and in the values they express both verbally and non-verbally. Let’s all try harder to promote communicating in ways that remove anger and fear and let in the light of personal strength and possibility.
Invest in your personal growth, come discover all that the Muth Family Learning Center has to offer you. For more info, please call (714) 641-3694. Marilyn Wilson, Directoror JoAnn McCune, Teacher.
COLLEGE AND CAREER RESOURCE CENTER
Congratulations to all seniors who have sent in their UC, Cal State, and other applications during the month of November. Some of you have already been accepted into your first-choice college and are basking in the your own glory, while others are just getting started on the process of choosing and applying to schools. Be very aware of application and scholarship consideration deadlines. Some college scholarships are due before the school’s regular deadline (USC for example). If you are a senior and you do not have any idea of what you are doing after you graduate, you need to see your counselor or Ms. Castro right away to discuss your options. The longer you wait, the less options you will have.
A brief reminder that this is the last month you can take your SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests and ACT with Writing to be considered at most schools for Fall 2010 acceptance. Mater Dei is a test site for all tests this month; you can come to thetest center and try to walk-on if you haven’t signed up. There is an additional charge for this, but most standby students are able to take the test. See Mr. Millis for the ACT and Mrs. Peterson for the SAT if you plan to come standby for the test. There are a few colleges and universities that will accept January test scores, but many more that do not. Check with each individual college to learn their policy. If you need to send SAT scores to the Cal States, you can enter “3594” for the school code, and they will send them to all the CSUs instead of you having to send them to each school yourself.
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors: Now is the time to start researching and visiting colleges. You are welcome to come into the College and Career Center to view catalogs, read up on different career and major options and to search for information on the internet. You should also try to do at least one Christian Service activity during the holidays. Colleges like to see students who do community service and hold leadership positions, so the sooner you get started, the better.
Check out our College and Career Planning website for more specific “Things to do this month” for each grade level, and information on scholarships, financial aid, and other good college search websites. For additional info, please contact Ms. Castro in the College and Career Center at [email protected] or (714) 850-9561.
WEB CALENDAR LINKSSchool Calendar
Weekly Block Schedule
SPORTS SCHEDULE LINKSBoys BasketballGirls BasketballBoys SoccerGirls SoccerWrestlingGirls Waterpolo
The Lumen is a publication of Mater Dei High School‘s Advancement & Alumni Office. For front page advertisement space (school events only), please contact Lisa Mendiaz ‘86, Director of Special Events & Publications at [email protected] or (714) 850-9527.
PERFORMING ARTS UPCOMING EVENTSDecember 2009
Dec. 4 Handbells - North Coast Church, Vista - 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Dec. 4 Christmas at the Corner dress rehearsal - Grotto Dec. 5 Cheer, USA Holiday Classic - Anaheim Convention Center Dec. 6 Christmas at the Corner - Grotto - 5:00 PM Dec. 8 Improv Club’s Chuckles for Charity - Little Theatre - 3:00 PM Dec. 9-10 Spring Play auditions - Little Theatre - 3:00 PM Dec. 10 Holiday Band concert - Marywood - 7:00 PM Dec. 11 Father Daughter Dance - LeVecke - 7:00 PM Dec. 12 Dance Celebration Competition - Mater Dei Dec. 13 Cheer competition - Meruelo Athletic Center Dec. 14-15 Madrigal Feast rehearsal - on-campus - 3:30 PM Dec. 16 Madrigal Feast dress rehearsal - Chapman University - 4:00 PM Dec. 17-19 Madrigal Feast - Chapman University - 6:00 PM Dec. 19 Dance team M4M - Camp Pendleton - 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
For more information on any of these events, please contact Mater Dei’s Performing Arts Department at (714) 957-3784.
Monarchs’ 2200 Wheels Club is promoting the ESLR’s for holiday fundraising themes. We seek to be effective communicators to spread the message of hope through the gift of mobility.
$15 buys one of 2200 wheels needed for a crate of 550 wheelchairs sent to developing countries.
$60 buys a complete wheelchair and covers the cost of assembly and delivery to those in need in impoverished places. Look for the club’s fundraising and educational activities on campus this holiday season.
For more information visit our website page at www.materdei.org/clubs.
Christine Allen, December Student of the Month is a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar/Finalist and has carried a top ten GPA since her freshman year of 4.43 since her freshman year. She is a four-year member of California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and a three-year member of National Honor Society (NHS).
Campus life for Christine has been filled with many Honors and AP classes including Honors English I, II, III; AP English; AP European History; AP US History; AP US Government; Honors Biology; Honors Algebra I; Honors Geometry; Honors Pre-Calculus. She is passionate about singing and has been involved in Mater Dei’s choral program throughout her four years beginning with Women’s Ensemble her freshman year and remaining in the Advanced Women’s Ensemble since her sophomore year. Club involvement is an important facet of the Mater Dei student and Christine has enjoyed being a member of American Cancer Society, Campus Ministry and African Child Foundation clubs on campus.
Community service is at the heart of each of our graduating seniors. They are required to complete 80 Christian Service hours in order to graduate and many go far beyond. Christine has a total of 128 hours. She earned her hours by volunteering her time at Mater Dei Special Games; working on all National Honor Society service projects and as a bible camp counselor at her church. “My favorite is being a Bible Camp Counselor because I love seeing the pure joy and happiness on the children’s faces as well as sharing my love of God with them”, states Christine.
College is just down the road a bit for this Mater Dei senior. The list of colleges she is interested in attending are Notre Dame, Villanova, UCLA, Texas A&M, USD, Creighton, Marquette and Seattle University. She is considering majoring in biology, psychology, or anthropology.
When asked what her favorite Mater Dei memory is, Christine had this to say: “My favorite Mater Dei memory has definitely been going on Walk-in-Faith. I feel like I have an extended family in the form of my small group, and Walk-in-Faith has also helped me not to stress as much.”
On her Mater Dei experience, Christine reflects back with “I cannot believe how quickly these four years have flown by! I have made so many incredible friends, many of who are so different from myself. Mater Dei has helped me grow as a whole person: mentally, psychologically, and especially spiritually. I am so blessed to have attended such a wonderful school, and I know that the knowledge I learned here will benefit me for the rest of my life.”
Christine is a parishioner at St. Norbert Church in Orange where she is involved in the youth ministry programs as well as Vacation Bible School.
She resides in Anaheim Hills with her parents are Greg and Corrine, and brother Ryan ‘13.
Students of the MonthAntonio Esparza, December Student of the Month, is an amazing scholar, thespian and academic decathlete. He carries a 4.025 GPA and has taken a variety of Honors and AP classes including Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, Honors Spanish III, Honors Biology, AP Spanish Lit IV and AP English IV. Antonio “Tony” was named a National Hispanic Scholar and is a recipient of the Luévano Scholarship and the Carson Scholarship which he has won multiple times.
He has been involved in Mater Dei’s Academic Decathlon Program since sophomore year. Tony was promoted to team leader in his junior year and is a co-captain this year. Being involved in this group has been something Tony will never forget. Some of his favorite memories at Mater Dei include the adventures he’s been on with his team including “the study retreat and fun times with friends in and out of the classroom.”
Tony is also known for his talent on the stage having been a part of the Theatre Department’s productions of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and Shakespeare in the Grotto’s “Antony and Cleopatra” in his junior year. This year he played Vinnie in “Lucky Stiff” and was also a crew member for Project Discourse’s “The Diary of Anne Frank.” He hopes to be a part of the rest of the theatre productions this year. Tony is also an active member of the Theatre Arts Club and the International Club where he serves as Club secretary.
For the past two years, Tony has served as an ambassador with the Office of Advancement and Alumni and has gone back to his elementary school, The School of Our Lady in Santa Ana, to share his experience and passion for Mater Dei. He says, “I would describe my Mater Dei experience with just one word: unforgettable. I came from a school with only 200 students to a school of 2,200, so the transition was a bit scary. However, by the second day I already had made new friends. The students and teachers were all so welcoming and loving. It has been said many times and it might seem a bit cliché, but Mater Dei truly is a tight knit family. The bonds and ties we make in this school will last forever. My Mater Dei experience was a great one that I will never forget.”
When asked about his experience with the Christian Service program he says, “For the majority of my service hours, I went back to The School of Our Lady and helped the students with their homework. I truly enjoyed helping them because I know how hard it is when you struggle in school. It can be frustrating and sometimes you just want to give up.” Tony hopes that he served as an example to the students at his alma mater. He says, “I hope that I inspired them not to give up, to stay in school and not to join a gang. They can do it. They just need help like all of us.”
Tony’s college choices are Catholic University of America, Georgetown, NYU, Harvard, Westminster College in Salt Lake City, University of Chicago, UCI, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. He plans to major in psychology and hopefully become either a clinical psychologist or forensic psychologist. He is also considering a minor in musical theater. “So maybe I’ll end up on stage,” he says.
Tony attends Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Santa Ana where was confirmed and was an altar server. He attended Our Lady of the Pillar School from kindergarten up until seventh grade when Our Lady of the Pillar school merged with Immaculate Heart of Mary School, now known as The School of Our Lady. Tony lives in Santa Ana with his parents Antonio V. and Maria Consuelo Esparza and his older sister Anabel.
Antonio EsparzaChristine Allen
GRAD NIGHT 2010
Update: DECEMBER 2009 Grad Night 2010 is set for Saturday May 29, 2010, and the Grad Night Committee is off to a strong start. The theme for 2010 is “HIT THE ROAD”. Location: ESPN Zone ~Downtown Disney Time: 11:00 p.m. - 5:30 a.m. Activities: Games, Dancing, Food, Prizes, Entertainment …etc Parents, remember that grad night is our gift to our senior students. This annual event has been running for years now and is a safe, fun, alcohol free, drug free, and automobile free, graduation party sponsored by the parents and families of Mater Dei high school. This event provides the 2010 graduating seniors one last time to gather and celebrate as a group. All levels of parents and families are involved – freshman, sophomores, juniors and of course seniors. WISH LIST / WE NEED YOUR HELP Grad Night includes a Memory Lane (a wall of photo memories) – Pictures of graduating seniors throughout their time at MDHS (events, teams, clubs, performances, dances, etc.) as well as one baby photo of each are displayed. Parents are encouraged to start gathering these pictures now for use in the Memory Lane display. A collection point in the Activities Office will be established to submit these pictures. Graduates will have opportunities to win any number of prizes at Grad Night. These prizes are provided by parents, families as well as general donations. If you have access to items that could be contributed as a prize, or wish to contribute cash to purchase prizes, please contact the Prize Committee Chair, Vicki Demos at [email protected] Remember all donations are tax deductible.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR GRADUATES AND MDHS
MEET YOUR 2010 GRAD NIGHT COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN CHAIR CO-CHAIR
Grad Night Chair Mark Ryan Shannon Ryan
Baggage Cindi Lujan Jennice Sandoval
Decorations Peggy Quayle
Entertainment Melinda Derloshan
First Aid Avery Mittman Theresa Mittman
Fundraising/Underwriting - Businesses Debbie Bejines
Invitations Leslie Rudeseal Kim Rose
Logistics (ESPN Zone Set-up) John Linnert
Memory Lane Wendy Lecot Vicki Bueschel/Kelly Scriven/Carol Arroyo
Newsletter Mary Ellen Roide
Photography Mike Brost
Prizes Vicki Demos
Secretary - Corresponding Mary Ellen Roide
Secretary - Recording Shannon Ryan
Security (Parents) Doug Beesweaurt
Staffing/ Volunteers Marylou Duncan
Treasurer Kay Ward
If you have questions, ideas, comments please contact us: Mark Ryan 714-504-1354 [email protected] Shannon Ryan 714-403-8336 [email protected]
Find out how you can start saving solar todaythanks to Mater Dei’s partnership with SunPower®.
Visit www.sunpowercorp.com/asp/materdeior call 1-877-SPWR-4YOU to find out more.
Solar is so 2009.
