DON BOSCO PREP “Empowering Young Men for Life”

Please find in this issue:

Article Page Director’s Message 2 Principal’s Letter 3 AP for Student Affairs 4 Nurse’s Notes 5 Transportation/Textbooks 6 Guidance Department 7-8 Fund Raising 9

Article Page Mission Club 10 “Gold Rush Auction” 11-12 Mothers’ Guild News 13-14 Spring Musical 15-17 Young Artists’ Scholarship Competition Finalists 18 Spring Concert 19 Day of Reflection 20

Volume 95 March 2013

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT

March 2013 Dear Parents and Students,

The eyes of the world will focus this month on the Vatican as the College of Cardinals elects a new Pope following the abdication of Benedict XVI from the papacy. It is an historic moment, to be sure. But for us as a Catholic and a Salesian school, it is of interest from a personal and spiritual point of view as well.

For Don Bosco, the Pope was not just a leader in the sense of the president of a country or the CEO of a company. He was, rather, a loving father who cared for us as his sons and daughters in God. And listening to the Pope, Don Bosco believed, would help our faith “be alive and fruitful”.

Thus Don Bosco would exhort his boys: “Let us love the Pope. When he gives some advice and, more so, when he expresses some desire, this must be received by us as a command.”

I had the blessing five years ago, on March 31, 2008, of joining with other Salesians in a private audience with Pope Benedict in the Vatican. He talked to us with a genuine affection, a real brilliance and a profound humility.

Benedict spoke about what he termed “a great educational emergency”. His conviction was that the task of education of the young is made more uncertain in our age when “doubts are circulating in our society and culture” and “distorted images are transmitted by the media”. His concern was that many educators – parents and teachers alike – get discouraged and lose hope in their work of forming the young entrusted to them.

So Benedict encouraged us Salesians meeting with him to go among the young with a profound trust “in the God who called us to life”. He urged us to partner with families and to give greater support to them as the primary setting for education. And he pressed us to help the young “to know and love the Lord Jesus, to let themselves be fascinated by him”.

Over the eight years of his service, Benedict showed that he himself knew and loved the Lord Jesus and was fascinated by him. And he went among the young as a true father, with a profound love for them and a deep concern for their education. We were blessed in him!

In this month of papal transition, let us pause to thank God for the humble and enlightened service of Benedict. He has taught the Church and the world well, and it was to our benefit to listen to him. Now he has listened to the voice of God in his conscience and is resigning. May his days withdrawn from the world be blessed.

And while we pray for a new father open to the Spirit of Jesus, may our own hearts be open to receive whoever is chosen with genuine faith and loving adherence.

Cordially,

Father James Heuser, SDB Director/President

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL

March 2013 Dear Parents and Guardians, This month continues the Lenten season; a time when we remember the great sacrifice made by our Savior. Just as the coming of spring brings new life out of the darkness of winter, Christ’s resurrection reminds us all of our renewed life in Christ through his passion and death. Let us continue to be mindful during the Lenten season of our own weaknesses and how we might bear our own crosses with the grace and love of the Risen Christ. We also welcome, with this edition of the Bulletin, our Class of 2017! It is a group of boys who have extraordinary promise and we look forward to their involvement with our school community. I ask all of our current parents and students to join me in providing the welcoming spirit and the hospitality which makes the Don Bosco family unique. Throughout the Lenten season, all of our students will have the opportunity to participate in the Stations of the Cross, as well as have the opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation. During this month, we also pray for our students who will be attending the March Leadership Retreat. These students have been selected by the faculty because of their great potential for leadership within the school. This retreat is an opportunity to further develop those leadership skills. There are some events of note this month. Throughout the month of March and into April, guidance counselors will be meeting with students to discuss scheduling for next year. You will not receive a selection sheet at home this year; rather, after a discussion with the student, you will be provided with a preliminary list of courses for the coming year from his counselor. Friday, March 8th is an early dismissal day for students (11:15am). On this day, the faculty and staff will engage in some professional development work on the topic of school safety and security. Friday, March 15th is the opening night of our school musical. This year our boys, and the girls from our surrounding catholic schools, have been working diligently in their preparation of Godspell. The arts are alive and well at Don Bosco Prep, and I would invite all of you to come see the fine talent on display from our young people. Finally, we begin our Easter recess on Wednesday, March 27th with an 11:15am dismissal. I hope that your Easter season is filled with the blessings of the risen Christ. Know that you are in my prayers as we continue through the Lenten season. May the joy and love of the resurrected Christ remain with all of us throughout the year! Sincerely,

John Stanczak John Stanczak, Principal

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FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

Hopefully, the majority of our winter weather is behind us and Mother Nature will not have too many March surprises in-store for us. While some of the February-March weather may bring some unpleasant conditions, parents and students alike are reminded that we expect the young men at DBP to adhere to the dress code that is noted in the Parent/Student Handbook (Agenda). The subject of attire has come up a number of times in various conversations, and I just wanted to briefly remind everyone of our expectations. DBP does not permit the wearing of hooded garments on campus during school hours (7:25AM-1:40PM). Any hooded garment worn to campus, including Don Bosco over-coats, must be placed in the student’s locker during these hours. In the event of rain, snow or extreme cold, a student may wear an appropriate winter hat which must be removed when entering the building. The wearing of jackets and/sweaters from such sources as North Face, LL Bean, Ralph Lauren, etc. are not acceptable. Should there be any questions regarding outerwear and other uniform requirements, please call Mrs. Saglimbene in the DPP Bookstore. The other dress code mandates remain unchanged and may be found on pages 53-54 of the Handbook. The haircut and grooming stand-ards can also be found within these pages. Please remember that the mandates noted in the Handbook apply to ALL students at DBP. Every student and their parent/guardian have been made aware of what is required of the young men at “The Prep”. In addition to the Handbook, there have been newsletter reminders, as well as announcements on campus. There is no upperclass-man exception to the rules. All students are expected to abide by the Agenda. While Seniors are “almost there”, they are not exempt from the regulations, and parents are requested to work with the school to assure that students are rules compliant up until graduation. Parents are reminded to keep a watch on their student’s attendance. With over three months remaining during the school year, we have students that are in danger of having to attend summer school due to excessive absenteeism. Any student that accumulates more than fifteen (15) unexcused absences, regardless of grades, must attend summer school. Please review pages 12-15 of the Agenda. Should there be attendance related questions, please contact Ms. Janet Hartman at 201.327.8003 Ext 100. Please be assured that I am always available to address any of your questions or concerns. I can be reached at 201.327.8003 Ext.103 or by e-mail at en-ekel@donboscoprep.org. If you wish to schedule an in-person meeting, please contact my assistant, Mrs. Broere at Ext.195. Thank you. Regards, Ed Nekel

Executive Assistant for Student Affairs

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Lack of Sleep: Is It Making Your Son Sick?

Having our winter break gave me the opportunity to catch up on some much needed rest. It also inspired me to read up on current studies related to the consequences of lack of sleep. As the school nurse, I want to share with you that I see many students suffering from lack of sleep. It can originate from a variety of causes that include: academic and sports commitments, poor time management, poor eating habits, stimulating activities like electronic devices late at night, to name a few. Did you know that lack of sleep can affect your immune system? People who don’t get enough sleep are more apt to get sick when exposed to a virus. It can also affect how fast you recover from an illness. Lack of sleep frequently translates into lost class time and even accidents. Long term sleep problems are related to many chronic health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. A recent article in Prevention Magazine, says that insufficient sleep can lead to a wide variety of problems. Some of the findings include: -A 2010 study in a journal called SLEEP, found that those sleeping less than 7 hours a night were at increased risk for heart disease. -A 2011 study in the Journal DIABETES, found that Type 2 Diabetics had a higher fasting blood sugar, a higher fasting insulin level and a higher insulin resistance level when they slept poorly. -A 2011 study by the American Urological Association theorized that poor sleep caused inflammation that in turn could lead to urinary problems. -A 2011 study by Case Western University found that those who slept less than 6 hours at night were more likely to have colonic polyps.

Teen agers need 9 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Is your son getting enough sleep?

Bridget Cena RN, School Nurse

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TRANSPORTATION/TEXTBOOK FORMS: 2013-2014

The B6T Transportation Application Form for New Jersey residents is available through the “Offices” heading and the “Transportation” link of the Don Bosco Prep. website: www.donboscoprep.org. It may be downloaded from the state’s website, as well: www.state.nj.us/education/finance/transportation/procedures/b6t.xls. Also on the Don Bosco website is the 2013-2014 New Jersey Textbook Form, click on “Offices” and then “Textbooks”. All New Jersey forms are due into the Main Office no later than March 6, 2013. Please mail them to Ms. Hartman’s attention. The New York Textbook Form is located on the “Textbook” link under the “Offices” heading of our website. It should be received into the Main Office, c/o Mrs. Saglim-bene, by March 1st. Some New York residents may be able to access the Application for Transportation Forms from your public district’s website; others may be receiving them in the mail. Various districts mailed forms to our school; these will be distributed to the students in Homeroom. Please contact your public high school’s Transportation Dept. for additional information. If your district requests the application be first submitted to Don Bosco Prep., please return it by March 15

th to Ms. Hartman in the Main Office.

Please be aware failure to return any Transportation Form in a timely manner may re-sult in denial of busing. For New Jersey residents whose districts provide Aid in Lieu, the reimbursement could be prorated/forfeited. All Transportation and Textbook forms are official state documents; therefore, it is the parents’/guardians’ responsibility to complete the forms. School hours are from 7:25AM to 1:40PM. The school year will start 9/3/2013 and will tentatively close 6/13/2014.

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GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

MEMO FOR SENIORS

******IMPORTANT DEADLINES******

The Guidance Center website has a listing of all SAT and ACT deadlines for this school year.

You are particularly reminded that :

March 1 – Deadline for applications due between April 1st and 30th to be submitted to

the Guidance Office

It is critical that students meet the deadlines set by colleges and Don Bosco.

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER, PLEASE STOP BY

THE GUIDANCE CENTER AND SIGN THE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE BOOK.

SCHOLARSHIPS Check the Naviance website for various scholarships available to seniors.

JUNIORS: It is recommended that you review this material for future references and

long-term planning

MEMO FOR JUNIORS

******IMPORTANT DEADLINES******

March 8 — Registration deadline for April 13th ACT Test

March 9 — SAT Test only

March 22 — Late registration deadline for April 13th ACT Test

April 5 — Registration deadline for May 4th SAT/SAT II Test

Checkout the Guidance Center on the school’s website for summer

college programs

SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS COLLEGE TOUR

STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY March 26, 2013

Cost: $20.00/person Space is limited to 30 students on a first come, first serve basis. Send all payments to Mrs. Lawlor in the Guidance Office. Checks should be made out to Don Bosco Prep High School.

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****CONGRATULATIONS TO DON BOSCO PREP****

For the past nine years, Don Bosco Prep has participated in the High

School Traffic Safety Challenge. This worthwhile initiative is sponsored

by the Trauma/Surgical Critical Care & Injury Prevention Unit at the

Hackensack University Medical Center along with State Farm Insurance.

Its purpose is to promote responsible student driving and the use of seat-

belts to prevent injury and death.

Throughout the years, there have been educational and informative

presentations for our students aimed at increasing awareness of these

safety issues. Unannounced seatbelt checks have been conducted in the fall

and late spring to measure student seatbelt use, both by student drivers as

well as front and rear seat passengers. The results of this effort have been

encouraging, and more students today are routinely using their seatbelts

than when we first participated in this program.

We are very proud to announce that on December 12, 2012, Don Bosco

Prep was the recipient of the 10th Annual High School Traffic Safety

Challenge Best Overall Percent of Seatbelt Usage award.

Congratulations to all those students who have promoted this effort

throughout the years.

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DON BOSCO PREP FUND RAISING

Based on the recommendations of the Meitler Study and as part

of the implementation of our Centennial Strategic Plan, all Don Bosco Prep fundraising activities

for all constituent groups will be coordinated through the Advancement Office.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a fundraiser, please contact

Craig Austin, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, in St. John’s Hall or call him at 201-327-8003 ext. 126.

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The Easter Bunny Needs Your Help!

Mission Club is making Easter baskets for children at Oasis, a women and children’s shelter in Paterson. We are asking Don Bosco families to donate a bag of candy to help us fill the 50-plus baskets for the children. Please do not send in any candy that contains peanuts. Donations may be dropped off to Mrs. Murray or to Mrs. Lawlor in the Guidance Office. Thank you for your generosity!

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We hope this finds you all well on these last weary days of winter! Hope-fully, as we turn our clocks ahead next week, we will find spring right around the corner! The Mothers Guild will be hosting a Ladies Night of Shopping on March 21

st, at Latona’s Specialties in Garfield, NJ. This shop, filled with gorgeous

treasures for your home and delicious Italian food and treats, is owned by Bosco alumni Joe Latona and his family. They have generously offered to host a shopping evening where the Bosco moms, and their friends, can spend time together, sample their delicious treats and shop! Wine and ap-petizers will be provided by our hosts, along with delicious desserts. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated back to the DBP Mothers Guild so please save the date, bring a friend and join us for the evening. An added bonus is that we will be supporting a DBP family owned busi-ness. Additional details will be sent out to everyone soon! Please save the date for our Lord & Taylor fundraising shopping event on April 4

th at the Ridgewood store. This is a great opportunity to shop for

that new summer wardrobe, cosmetics and gifts for Mothers Day. The tickets for this event will be available on line- It is a very easy event for us to offer and one that helps us greatly with our fundraising efforts. Please plan on attending and keep an eye out for further details shortly! We are starting to plan for the new MG board for the 2013-14 school year. Volunteering for the Executive Board is an excellent way to serve the Don Bosco community and is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and form friendships. We will be discussing the various open positions at our next meeting. Please note that our next meeting will be April 8

th at 7:30 pm in the school

cafeteria. We wish you and your families a blessed and holy Easter. Enjoy the break and we will see you in April! Warm regards, Kathleen Martorano and Theresa Ruoff

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Don Bosco Music Department Announces

the Musical this year will be…

Show Dates

March 15, 16 & 17

March 23 &24

Any questions please contact boscoplays@gmail.com

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Ticket Sale Form Name:______________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________ Phone Number :______________________________________ Ticket Request: March 15th:______ March 16th:______ March 17th:______ March 23rd:______ March 24th :______ Total Amount of Tickets_________x$15.00 Total Amount Due_________

Any questions please contact boscoplays@gmail.com The tickets will go on sale for $15 on February 1st.

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Don Bosco Prep High School 492 No. Franklin Turnpike

Ramsey, NJ 07446

Dear Friends of Don Bosco Prep High School Don Bosco Prep is proud to be presenting Godspell on March 15th, 16th 17th, 23rd and 24th After so much success with our prior shows, we are once again expecting sellout crowds for this year production. We invite you to support our endeavors by purchasing an ad in our program. This special advertising opportunity gives you affordable publicity and at the same time serves a worthwhile cause- enrichment through the arts of our young people. Please note that our production includes many young men and women from numerous different communities in New Jersey and New York. As always, we appreciate your past contributions and look forward to your generous support of Godspell, Don Bosco Prep High School and the cast and crew. Sincerely, The Program Committee

Ads are due no later than 03/05/2013. Play program is 5 ½ by 8 ½ inches. Please make checks payable to Don Bosco Preparatory High School. Send this form, along with payment to the attention of Lucille Conzo – Drama Department Name of Business/Family:_________________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________________ Contact Name and Phone Number___________________________________________________ Student Name____________________________________________________________________ Please check below: _______Please design ad for me (please print information on back or separate sheet). _______Attach is business card or page design _______Page Design has been emailed to plmoore@optonline.net ______$150.00 – full page ______$250.00 – inside back/back cover ______$75.00 half page ad ______$40.00 quarter page

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DON BOSCO PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL 492 North Franklin Turnpike Ramsey, New Jersey (201) 327-8003 www.donboscoprep.com

REV. JAMES HEUSER, SDB TONI BILOTTI CECERE

Director/President Concert Director

Chapel Concerts presents

YOUNG ARTISTS’ SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

FINALISTS

Saturday April 20, 2013 at 7:30PM

Concert will be held in Music Room of St. John’s Hall

ORDER TICKETS: Return this order form by April 15th to address below. "**************************************************************************************

April 20th TICKET ORDER FORM (Return Immediately - Seating is limited)

Name _____________________________________________ Email address_______________________________________________ Address____________________________________________ No. of tickets ___________ x $15 = _______________________________ City/State/Zip_______________________________________ No tickets today but add me to your mailing list.________________________

Phone Number______________________________________ Donation to Chapel Concerts Enclosed $_______________________

How did you hear about this concert?___________________________________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to Don Bosco Prep Chapel Concerts. Return completed form to:

Toni Bilotti Cecere, Don Bosco Prep, 492 N. Franklin Tnpk., Ramsey, NJ 07446

For more information www.donboscoprep.com click on Events/Arts/Chapel Concert Series OR

CALL (201) 327-8003 x 188

Tickets $15 General Admission

All programs subject to change. Tickets are non-refundable.

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DON BOSO PREP Music Department

Spring Concert

Tuesday evening, April 30, 2013 at 7:30

DeSales Auditorium

General Admission

Tickets are $12.00 and may be purchased by returning this form to Mr. or Mrs. Cecere with a

check made payable to Don Bosco Prep for the full amount of your tickets. All are invited.

Please plan to bring friends and family members.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

TICKET ORDER FORM

Last Name: _____________________________ First Name: _________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

City: ________________________________________ State: _____Zip Code: _____________

Phone Number: _______________________________________________________

Number of Tickets _____________________________________

Amount Enclosed (no. of tickets) _____ x $12.00 =$_________

Please make checks payable to Don Bosco Prep Music Department

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