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arondeletter Carondelet High School 1133 Winton Drive Concord, California 94518 www.carondelet.pvt.k12.ca.us

Summer2010

Woman of Heart,Woman of Faith,

Woman of Courage.

Celebrating the Women of the Carondelet community, especially the class of 2010.

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Carondeletter is published for the alumnae,

parents and friends of Carondelet High School.

PresidentSister Kathleen Lang, CSJ

PrincipalTeresa Hurlbut, Ed. D.

Director of DevelopmentPatricia Larsen

Director of Special Events Kathleen Russell

Administrative AssistantTerri Meehan

Special Events AssistantMarybeth Anicich

Director of Alumnae RelationsMary Goebel Frevele '75

Editor, Alumnae AdvisorSister Eleanor Eagan, CSJ

Assistant EditorKatie Clark Vecchio '76

Carondelet High School, founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, will serve those seeking to become “all of which woman is capable” through a curriculum that integrates intellectual, moral, physical, psychological, social and spiritual development.Carondelet High School will model collaboration among students, faculty, parents, alumnae, Board, and the greater community.Integrating a counter-cultural stance based on gospel values, the School will nurture an environment of risk-taking that enables each person to assume roles of leadership and service to the dear neighbor. Graduates of Carondelet High School will know their responsibility to reflect the CSJ charism of unity and reconciliation in their personal and professional lives. (In March 2000, the high schools sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph met to share a common vision based on the Congregation’s charism, history and mission. The Vision Statement was formulated at that time.)

Vision Statement

Dear Parents, Alumnae and Friends,

As we complete planning for the 2010-2011 school year, which corresponds to our fiscal year, I would like to share some pertinent information. As we all know only too well, all are affected in some way by the current economic situation, be it local, national or international.

First of all, we have indeed been fortunate here at Carondelet. Our 2009 Visions of Christmas, which is the major fundraiser for development, slightly exceeded the 2008 Visions, a welcome figure which offset the dramatic drop in our recent Golf Tournament.

It is our intention to continue with these two fundraisers, which are also friendraisers. The level of sponsorship and participation speaks to the spirit that permeates both events.

Secondly, I am pleased to report that since the beginning of strategic planning in 1991, we have used all proceeds from these events to directly benefit our building program.

In other words, no monies have been used for the daily operations of the School. We have completed and paid for phases I through IV. Phase V, the most ambitious, has been carefully explored and planned by our architects under the direction of the Board of Directors. Currently, we are working with the City of Concord’s Planning Commission. We lack only one element, funding, and anticipate a capital campaign to complete Phase V. Clearly, such a campaign is neither appropriate nor feasible at this time.

Thirdly, the need for tuition assistance has increased dramatically over the past two years.

Our decision for the 2010-2011 school year is to designate all monies raised through development to go directly to tuition assistance. The priority, then, is to do all that we are able to help the families most in need. And this need is greater than the long awaited athletic complex that comprises Phase V.

Our greatest resource may be found in the young women who benefit from a Carondelet education. As we continue to hear of the leadership positions and Christian services of so many of our alumnae, we are grateful for the founding faculty members who were risk takers and the founding families who sacrificed so much to establish this very special legacy.

We are people of faith and hope, believing that education is God’s work and confident in God’s continued blessings. We strive to be people of love, love of God and love of the dear neighbor without distinction. Let us also be people of appreciation, recognizing past accomplishments, bearing with these present difficult times and working together for a brighter tomorrow.

Sister Kathleen Lang, CSJPresident

Carondelet President Announces Financial Priority During Difficult

Economy: Tuition Assistance

“The need for tuition assistance

has increased dramatically over

the pasttwo years.”

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Woman of Heart, Faith, Courage

Femme de coeur, femme de foi, femme de courage …

In September 2003, I first saw these words on the wall of Mother St. John Fontbonne’s bedroom in Lyons. The phrases, hand printed just below her portrait, contrasted sharply with the elegant image. I wondered if they were perhaps added at another time as tribute to this remarkable woman.

Mother St. John was a woman of heart who agonized over sending six sisters to America in 1836. A woman of faith, she had earlier accepted the challenge to re-found her congregation after the French Revolution. A woman of courage, she stood ready for the guillotine but was spared with the end of Robespierre’s reign of terror.

Over the past seven years our Fontbonne Forums have honored these concepts of heart, faith and courage. They are characteristic of our mission and vision, of Carondelet women. This issue of the Carondeletter recognizes two women whose combined service to Catholic education exceeds one hundred years. Sister Patricia Anne will retire to Carondelet Center in Los Angeles while Mrs. Maria Gomes will spend more time with family and friends.

We celebrate and bless in a special way the graduates of 2010 who are just beginning to make their mark. Their college choices reveal careful selection and direction. Their reported honors and reflective words promise future success.

We are grateful to our alumnae who have responded generously to our invitation to keep in touch through their own stories of heart, faith and courage. Similar accounts will continue in future editions.

Another woman of heart, Sister Carol Anne O’Marie, our first director of development, died just over a year ago. Like Mother St. John, she has left behind a legacy to be studied and emulated. Sister’s twelfth and last novel, Like a Swarm of Bees, tells a colorful herstory of the first six sisters who settled in Carondelet, Missouri, in 1836. It has been selected as Carondelet’s One Book, One Community project for the coming

Amy Hom Class of 1978

November 18, 1960 – May 4, 2010

Rest in PeaceMargaret “Peggy” Corcoran

Class of 1977June 13, 1959 – January 26, 2010

In MemoriamWe commend to your prayerful remembrance:

Richard Bailey, father of Monica ’84Eugene Callahan, father of Martha ’74 and Marianne ’76Dr. Philip Chan, father of Tammy ’86Margaret Corcoran ‘77, sister of Mary Kathleen ’78 and Erin ’84Catherine Damboise-Johnson, mother of Hayley Johnson ’11Joseph Eisele, father of Karen ’82 and Paula ’85Joseph Emmanuel, father of Patti Stauch, former CHS facultyGail Grundon, mother of Christina ’84Nora Ryan Hetherton, mother of Maria Hetherton, CHS facultyJames Hogan, father, and Timothy Hogan, brother of Kathleen ’86Amy Hom ’78, sister of Marian ’81 and Daisy ’85Marie King, mother of Andrea ’72Richard Logan, father of Richard (Christine Sabatte ’73), CHS benefactors;

grandfather of Claire Logan ’12David Lopez, brother of Cynthia ’81 and Christina ’85Elise Luppes, mother of Monique ’83; wife of John “Uncle Lupe” of CHS

cafeteria daysCarl Marino, father of Lesley '76William Mowris, father of Susannah ’77Marie Oster, mother of Alana ’75Frances Pyne, mother of Camille-Marie ’89 and Frances Ann ’92Lilla Roll, mother of Lilla ’77 and Mary ’81Jesus Rosario, father of Jessica ’03Joseph Ruggles, father of Gael ’70 and Mary ’72Carolina Tancredy, benefactor, mother of Richard (Paula), grandmother of

Barbara ’83, Caroline ’91, Elaine ’95, Elizabeth ’73, Julie ’76, Karen ’80, Mary Rose ’91 (deceased) and great grandmother of Mary Sandri ’09

Honrado Tengsico, father of Jasmine ’10Winona Thibodeaux, grandmother of Theresa Thibodeaux, CHS campus ministerMary Ann Thomas, mother of Mary Denise ’75 and Anne ’84, grandmother of

Catherine Duyn ’07Ray Thompson, father of Catherine ’82 and Anne ’84Bill Torres, brother of Paula Menconi, CHS staffMary Williams, mother of Anne ’88Margaret Woytek, mother of Janet ’71, Barbara ’74 and Carolyn ’78

These loved ones are enrolled in the Carondelet Academic Foundation and remembered each month at Mass celebrated in honor of St. Joseph.

year. Over 900 copies are in circulation among students, faculty, staff, associates and Board members. Sister Protais, the protagonist, tells quite a tale having to do with heart, faith and courage. —Sister Eleanor, CSJ

Cover photo of Adrienne Johnson courtesy of

Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com

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Maria Gomes joined our faculty in 1998, back in the days of the

portable classrooms known as M1, M2 and M3. She came with a love for the teaching profession, three decades of experience, a deep understanding of mathematics, and amazing organizational skills. Maria shared all of these gifts with her students and colleagues at Carondelet.

Maria’s care for her students is not just for today; it is for their futures. In her math classes at every level, she teaches organization, study skills, and perseverance.

“Don’t pay twice for the same hamburger!” she tells her classes. In other words, learn from your error on the quiz, so that you don’t make the same mistake on the test. “Don’t pay twice for the same hamburger.”

“You are varsity math!” Maria

Sister Patricia Anne Says Goodbye to Student Body—and to CHS

"Varsity Math" Teacher Retires After 45 Years in Catholic Education

By Cathy Newsomencourages her honors classes. She explains that it takes skill development and lots of practice to be good at math, just as it does to be good at sports. When I was presenting a challenging calculus problem this year, one of my AP students exclaimed, “We can do this. Remember, we are varsity math!”

Maria is a lifelong learner. She began her career as a music teacher and later earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching Mathematics. BC, 'Before Carondelet,' she had already embraced the challenge of using computers and graphing calculators. Once the 'back forty' classrooms were completed, Maria was chosen to be first in our department to learn and experiment with the computer/ projector technology. She created graphing programs to present concepts and with the click of a mouse she could graph any variation of a given function.

Personally, I am thankful for the support and sound advice that Maria has offered me.

Maria, you definitely are a master of the art of teaching mathematics! Thank you for your dedication and service to the CHS community. We wish you many blessings in your retirement as you enjoy your beautiful family, music, travel, and solving the occasional quadratic equation.

In 1963, I was asked by our Community Leadership to check each week on the

progress of our new high school here in Concord. Although I have never taught here, I am grateful to have been a part of

the beginning of this great school. And since 1989 I have had the privilege of service here. Sister Kathy was principal and she asked me to consider becoming Plant Manager. I was happy to become a part of this new challenge.

At the 40th anniversary, the original contractor came to celebrate with us. He said to me, “I was very nervous when (Continued on page 34)

you would come weekly to check the progress of the school." I said to him “If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have been so nervous when I came.” St. Joseph helped to guide the workers and the school opened on time.

The three Sisters who were the first faculty stayed with us at Queen of All Saints Convent. They had many stories about their new beginnings. Only the main academic building was completed that first year and the Convent, Gym, Chapel, and the grounds were completed the following year.

When the school opened, Sister Edward Mary, the first principal, asked Leonard Gabaldon to come from Prescott, Arizona where he had been custodian at our community school. Over 45 years the custodial crew has become a great group for whom I have much respect—the workers who have kept our school in such good condition: Daryl Rosanbalm, Howard Lee, Bill Smith, Steve Fletcher, Patrick Hoppaugh, Bob Lacher, Nicholas Garcia and our present leader, Eric Stong. I have not had the time to meet our night crew but see they are doing a good job.

Another great group of workers

provides good food at lunch and morning break and helps to make the Garaventa Center a happy place to spend free time: Jose Sanchez, Sandy Bastos, Christine Brassel, Tom Elardy, and that special person, Wendy Aliotti.

Our campus provides us with green grass, flowers and trees—a lovely atmosphere to learn and enjoy friends. One day I met one of the gardeners: “Sister I am not smart enough to go to school here, but I can make the flowers grow.” His remark brought tears to my eyes. We all have gifts but how do we use them? How do we encourage each other whether we are students, teachers, staff or part of the administrative team?

To the work grant students, I want you to know I am proud of you.

You have worked well and hard to gain your education and have been a help to teachers and staff members. I know you will continue to do well.

Your teachers are challenging educators. They understand how important their role is in this school. I remember well the death of our math teacher, Lori Humphreys, and our religion teacher,

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Student Body Celebrates St. Joseph's Day Mass

On behalf of the student body, the leadership councils of Carondelet

would like to honor Sister Eleanor on her 60th Jubilee. Throughout the years you have been such an asset to the CHS Community and we would like to thank you for all that you do. We would like to present you with six bouquets of red roses with white ribbons signifying the colors of Carondelet; one for each decade you have dedicated in service to the dear neighbor. Here are a few memories in which we will always remember you...

For dedicating years of service teaching English and aiding the school in the intricate process of student admissions. Presenting flowers on behalf of the Freshman class is Brook Songey.

We remember how you always model Christian Love, especially when you ask about our families and keep in touch with many of the alumnae. Your work with the Carondeletter always made sure we were in the loop too! Presenting flowers on behalf of the Sophomore class is President Caroline Saca.

We remember your encouraging compliments that help us to always do our best and you brighten each day with your smile! Presenting flowers on behalf of the Junior class is President Breanna Burgos.

We will always remember you as the vital, hard working, behind-the-scenes woman whom we see taking pictures of all of our student activities. Presenting flowers on behalf of the Senior class is President Kathryn McCormick.

We appreciate your caring attitude and genuine interest in our lives. Your sincerity and openness remind us that we are loved. Always remember that we love you and you are an important part of the Carondelet community. Presenting

flowers is Vice President of Spiritual Life Council, Tina Gomez.

Sister Eleanor, you epitomize what it means to be a woman of faith, woman

of hope, woman of love. We hope that you have many more happy years in service to the dear neighbor. Presenting flowers is Vice President of ASB, Camille Larracas.

Thank you, Sister Eleanor, for all that you do here at Carondelet and congratulations on your 60th Jubilee. You inspire us with your kind heart, soft-spoken leadership, and humble manner. You truly represent all of which woman is capable.

With the celebration of the feast of St. Joseph each year, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet renew their vows—their solemn promise and personal commitment to their religious congregation. The sisters promise poverty ( to use the goods

of this world wisely and without ownership), chastity ( to love inclusively, all persons without distinction) and obedience (to listen carefully to the will of God and their superiors). A sacred and public commitment to a life of service, these vows are perpetual, that is, binding for life. Several sisters from the community came to Carondelet to celebrate St. Joseph's Day Mass and to publicly renew their vows. As part of the Mass, Sister Eleanor also celebrated her 60th Jubilee with her community, faculty and staff, and the entire student body, as well as with alumnae and family members. To celebrate, student leaders Katie Texeira and Danielle Ryba presented Sister Eleanor with six dozen roses, honoring her 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph.

Students Honor Jubilee with Presentation of RosesBy Katie Teixeira and Danielle Ryba, Class of 2010

“You epitomize what it means to bea woman of faith,woman of hope, woman of love....in service to the dear neighbor.”

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With 'Gratitude and Respect,' President's Award Presented to Rich Holmberg

By Sister Kathleen Lang

Carondelet’s President’s Award gives us an opportunity to honor someone

whose life of dedication and commitment reflects the mission and values of our school community. This year we recognize a man of many talents and many years of leadership and service.

Google Search reports 84 Richard Holmbergs registered in the United States. But as far as Carondelet High School is concerned there is only one, a resident of Clayton, a former world traveler, a vine grower and entrepreneur, but most of all a family man, and a man for all the seasons of one’s life.

Born in San Francisco of a proud father and a daring, very strong mother—her son’s standard for women of today—Rich attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and Archbishop Riordan High School before presenting himself, a promising athlete, at Saint Mary’s College where his studies included economic history of Latin America and later his master’s degree in Business Administration.

At Saint Mary’s College Mr. Holmberg served as Alumni Association president. During his time, he inaugurated dinners and programs that recognized award-winning professors and celebrated their dedication to education. Asked about his

long, supportive affiliation wi th the co l lege , Rich graciously replied, “They gave me everything—acceptance, affirmation and assistance. To whom much is given, much is expected. And I hope I have lived by that mantra, not only for Saint Mary’s, but also for Carondelet and the John Wagner Associates, where I’ve committed my energies.”

Today we recognize in a special way Mr. Holmberg’s commitment to Carondelet High School. In 1987 Rich and Connie commended their precious twin daughters, Sansa and Krista, to Carondelet’s care. During those four years the Holmbergs were leaders in fundraising and friendraising, active in the Parents’ Association and charter parents for Grad Night!

In 1991 Mr. Holmberg joined the CHS Board of Directors. Between

“To whom much is given,

much is expected.”

airline trips around the world, the CEO of John Wagner Associates brought his wisdom and expertise in finance to the Board table. He developed plans for dealing with deferred maintenance, for establishing equity in salaries and compensation, and for insuring affordable tuition. He was the respected “forecast” man on the Board.

Recently retired after 40 years with Wagner Associates, Mr. Holmberg continues his passion for service and giving back. Grateful for his life, he participates in the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association programs giving what he calls “Pep Talks” for victims, families and caregivers.

Three things to remember about Rich Holmberg: His first job after

college was teaching, here at Carondelet in 1969, and he came to school on his motorcycle! He admits being attracted to strong women—his mother, his wife, his daughters and the women of Carondelet! He appreciates life to the fullest, saying of himself, “I’ve had a serendipitous life—the gift of finding something needed at the right time. God has been good to me. I find the balance is in giving back.”

With gratitude and respect we present the President’s Award to Mr. Richard Holmberg.

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Nancy O'Malley Honored as Alumna of the Year

by Mary Frevele

The Alumna of the Year Award is presented to a graduate who

exemplifies the Carondelet Mission. She embraces challenge, integrating gospel values into her own life and the lives of others. She is a leader and shares her talents with her community. The Alumna of the Year never forgets her Carondelet roots.

From her first day on campus, Nancy O’Malley, Carondelet Class of 1971, knew her experience would be wonderful. She embraced the school with an open heart and mind and absolutely enjoyed every minute. Many friendships made at Carondelet have lasted over 40 years.

Nancy graduated Cal State Hayward and went on to obtain her law degree from Golden Gate University. She joined the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in 1984 and has earned a National reputation as an expert in the area of violence against women. She has been fundamental in establishing programs for victims of violent crimes and has been recognized for her efforts. Nancy has received numerous awards for her leadership and service including

“Woman of the Year” from the California Legislature.

Various organizations including the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA are grateful to Nancy for her enthusiastic dedication and service. She sets an example by personally mentoring teens and establishing programs and funding to benefit at-risk youth.

While Nancy has been busy in her professional life, she hasn’t forgotten her roots. Nancy has shared her story over the years with many Carondelet students at Career Fairs. She supports the school financially and is in the process of coordinating a program for Carondelet students to intern at law and criminal justice offices.

We are proud of Nancy and her accomplishments. She is the first woman District Attorney for Alameda County and serves as President of the California Women Lawyers organization. Nancy is a beautiful example of being all of which woman is capable. Congratulations Nancy O’Malley, Class of 1971, Carondelet’s 2010 Alumna of the Year.

Graduation: Sister Kathy Welcomes the Community

with Prayer

Let us take a moment to remember that we are in the presence of God.

Gracious and loving God, on this great feast of Pentecost, when the first Christians were renewed in mind, body and spirit, we ask you to come upon us and fill us with your grace. We ask that you grant these young women of Carondelet the gifts of Your Spirit:

...The gift of wisdom to discern your will in their lives.

...The gift of understanding to become persons of collaboration and compassion.

...The gift of counsel, that they may influence others to appreciate goodness and beauty.

...The gift of fortitude to be risk-takers, willing to embrace a counter-cultural stance in today’s broken world.

May these graduates experience the gift of knowledge in their pursuit of truth...The gift of piety in their love of God and the dear neighbor—all persons, without distinction—and a holy fear that will inspire them always to seek unity and reconciliation in their personal and professional lives.

May your Spirit, Lord, continue to guide all here present, reminding us that your gifts are to be shared and made known in our world—a world so in need of justice, love and peace.

All this we ask through Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen!

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Celebrating the 'Phenomenal Class'

of 2010By Adrienne Johnson, Salutatorian,

Class of 2010

Good Morning Sister Kathy, Dr. Hurlbut, faculty and staff of

Carondelet, family, friends, and the graduating class! Welcome to the commencement ceremony for the class of 2010! First of all, I would like to say thank you. To the faculty for your dedication to fostering our spiritual and academic growth; to our parents, for giving us your undying love and encouragement that brought us here today; to friends, who have offered this class a wider support system than we could have ever hoped for. And finally, to my fellow graduates, for trusting me with the honor of addressing you today, but more importantly for being yourselves—the phenomenal class of 2010.

Over these past four years, we have all had the opportunity to share our diverse talents with the rest of the Carondelet community, whether it was through visual and performing arts, student groups, athletics, or community service. During my time here, I have had the immense pleasure of being a part of the Track and Field team. I love track, and although most of the world only shares this sentiment during the Summer Olympics, it is something that literally

Salt brings out the best in everything. It doesn't cover up the taste of foods, but enhances their flavors. Dishes prepared without salt can be bland, begging for the flavor-enhancing qualities of salt. Salt is also an important preservative for meats and vegetables. Salt is even used to keep us safe, to keep cars from slipping on treacherous icy roads. So, salt has a wide span of important uses.

Now to the Gospel of Matthew: "You are like salt for mankind." You—the faculty and staff, parents, families and friends... We, the 2010 graduating class of Carondelet... We are all called to be like salt for mankind, to bring out the best in everything, to enhance the lives of others.

Salt alone is of no use. It must be mixed and blended to produce its positive effects. My fellow graduates, we also must not stand alone. We are just beginning our journey of working to blend with the world around us, to bring out the best in everything. This is an active process. It will take hard work by all of us. Every interaction with others is important and meaningful, in our lives and in the eyes of God. It is the challenge in our lives to consistently be the "salt," the human force that brings out the best in mankind, preserving our faith and helping us travel safely with God at our side.

Just as those two basic ions of sodium and chloride in salt are necessary for the survival of all living creatures, the presence of light is also vital for life. The radiance of light is a sign of God's presence surrounding us. Light makes us feel good—the sunlight on our backs, the spotlight on the stage of the Company production, the field lights illuminating the soccer game, the warm glow of a candlelight dinner. Light is also necessary for seeing the world around us. It is the light that is within each of us, that must glow for others. We must take our "light" from "the cherished halls and columned walls” of Carondelet, as we begin a new

chapter in our lives. Today's Gospel tells us, "You are like light for the whole world." As we step forward, we can use our light to shine upon those in need—in the devastated earthquake regions of Haiti, our wonderful but less fortunate neighbors in the Monument corridor, and the beloved women of the Middle East. We have been granted the gift of light from God. As we say in our school prayer, "God is my light."

It is up to each of us to decide how we will show our light. The Gospel tells us, "No one lights a lamp and puts it under

a bushel basket!" Will we keep our light to ourselves, or will we incorporate that light into our daily lives and shine it before the world? How many of us will continue the commitment of community service during college and beyond? (I will, with God's grace.) Will you shine the light of compassion on any fellow college students who might be lonely or

sad? (I will shine my light, with God's help.) Will you continue to keep the love and light of Kairos alive every day of your life? (With God's strength, I will Live the Fourth.) Will you keep faith and prayer as your inner strength? (I pray I will.)

Each of us is ultimately responsible for our own actions and lives. At the dawn of each day, we must take a quiet moment to ask ourselves, "What am I going to do today to give meaning to my life and help to others? How am I going to make the world a better place?" We must not sit back, invisible in this life. We must be active and vigilant, every day, so that our "salt does not lose its saltiness and become worthless." Rather, as in the words of Matthew: "Your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven."

When you feel the warmth of the sun on your back and taste that amazing salty flavor, realize that God is always with us and calls us to be His, "salt of the earth" and "light of the world."

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. St. Joseph, pray for us. God is my light.

We Are the SaltBaccalaureate Reflection

By Madeleine Thibault, Class of 2010

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It Is Our Time to Make a ChangeBy Courtney Gegg, Valedictorian, Class of 2010

Can you believe this is happening? Just yesterday, as freshmen, we

were nervously going to our first day of class, as sophomores we were just trying to fit in, as juniors we anxiously awaited that special guy to ask us to prom, and as seniors, we began the year with the attitude that we “rule the school.” Today as we graduate, I would like for you to reflect on this story by Loren Eiseley that has significance to all of us...

One day, as a man was walking along the shore of an ocean, he saw a young

woman reaching down to the sand, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. Intrigued, the man asked the woman what she was doing. "Throwing starfish into the ocean so that when the tide goes out, all the starfish won’t die," she said. Upon hearing this, the man asked, “But, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!" At this, the young woman bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, she said, "It made a difference for that one."

As we graduate, it is now our time to make a difference. Through our experiences at Carondelet, we have been given the tools and opportunities to make that difference, just like the woman in the starfish story.

The rigorous academics have provided

anyone can do, which is what makes it so remarkable. My absolute favorite event is the high jump, which basically consists of running in a “J”-shaped path, leaping into the air, contorting your body to fly backwards over a bar, and landing on a giant mattress.

To accomplish this feat, you must listen to the coach, who can see what you cannot. Here at Carondelet, our teachers have “coached” us in everything from the numerical integration of a function to speaking Latin to impress boys.

Next, you must be devoted in practice as we have been to community

service though Camp Krem, St. Marty’s Party, and our school-wide Lenten alms

projects. After you’ve practiced your steps, it’s time to actually jump. As you sail over the bar, it is almost like flying, but backwards. You feel as if you are weightless and everything is all right—similar to the way that we felt after discovering beauty in others and ourselves on Kairos, or when we came together with overwhelming energy at our spirit rallies.

Today, we have reached the final phase of our high school careers. We have cleared the bar and landed on the mat, and we feel the elation and accomplishment that come with that success. Today is a day to commemorate what has happened and the prospect of what is to come. In the words of a very wise and widely loved mathematics teacher, it’s time to “Celebrate our Knowledge.”

Congratulations, Class of 2010!

“As you sail over the bar, it is almost like

flying, but backwards. You feel as if you

are weightless and everything is all right.”

us with numerous opportunities for the next stages of our lives. The elated shrieks coming from Mr. Payne’s classroom have shown us learning can be enjoyable. While we might have dreaded that class that forced us to “keep our foot on the accelerator,” as Mr. Okey said, we are now better prepared to make a difference. The sports teams, for which Carondelet is renowned, have taught us the important lesson of working together to achieve a goal. The community service performed by Carondelet students has made us more empathetic, opening our eyes to injustices which we have the power to change. For all of those who had the opportunity to volunteer at Camp Krem, a summer camp for disabled children, seeing a child beam with happiness as we push her on a swing has shown us how small acts can change lives.

The class of 2010 has developed a sense of community that helped us recognize

that we all need to work together and support one another. Through dances, spirit rallies, utter domination of the PowderPuff football games, and the wonderful experience of Kairos, we have become one. And, finally, the faith aspect of Carondelet has enabled us to deepen our faith. As our faith in God has strengthened, our confidence has grown and we have empowered ourselves to bring about change.

Now it is our time to start throwing starfish back into the ocean. As in

the starfish story, individually we can make small changes but, together, the class of 2010 will make changes that will impact the world. Together we will be all of which woman is capable.

“Through our experiences at

Carondelet, we have been given the tools and opportunities tomake a difference.”

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Class of 2010: Special Honors

Justine Bie The Medaille Award for Spirituality and Service

This award honors the spirit of Jean Pierre Medaille SJ, who challenged six women, the first Sisters of St. Joseph, in 1650, to “divide the city, identify the needs of the time, and to do all of which woman is capable in service to the dear neighbor."

Courtney Gegg The Senior Athlete of the Year Award

This award recognizes a student who has participated in interscholastic sports for four years while maintaining high academic standards and representing Carondelet and the values of a Catholic education.

Kathryn McCormickThe Principal’s Award

for Outstanding Service to Carondelet

Danielle RybaThe Fontbonne Award

Recalling the spirituality of Mother Saint Jeanne Fontbonne—a woman of faith, courage and heart, who refounded the Sisters of St. Joseph after the French Revolution—this award recognizes the graduate who personifies the CSJ tradition of "eyes open, ears attentive, spirits alert...sleeves rolled up for ministry."

Kathryn Texeira the Carondelet Award

The recipient of this award represents the ideals of Carondelet High School: academics, leadership, service, character, and loyalty.

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Class of 2010 Honors and AwardsIvanna AlavaPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Frances ArguelloPresident's Volunteer Service AwardSan Jose State University GrantsSan Jose State University State Grant

Jessica AtkinPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Hailey BabinCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of San Francisco Academic Merit Award

Frencia Annis BautistaPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Maria BellafrontePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Justine BieCarondelet High School Medaille AwardJefferson Awards Students in Action RecognitionPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Jillian BockenkampPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Erin BoettcherCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of New Mexico Athletic Scholarship

Lauren BonneyCalifornia Scholarship FederationCity of Pleasant Hill Lauren Bonney Recognition DayDaughters of the American Revolution

American History Scholarship President's Volunteer Service AwardPrudential Spirit of Community Awards

Distinguished Finalist, Bronze Medal WinnerSanta Clara University Academic Competitiveness Grant Santa Clara University GrantSanta Clara University SCU Grant

Meghan BowenCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Gabrielle BradfordCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSalutatorian Candidate

Mary-Elizabeth BreslinPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Aine BrooksPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Monica BruceBlack Families Association of Contra Costa County

Scholarship FinalistCalifornia State University, Fullerton Grants

Katelyn CadiganPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kelly CaltonDominican University of California Dominican ScholarshipPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Necole CayananDominican University of California Dean's ScholarshipPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Heather CerneyUniversity of California, Berkeley Athletic Scholarship

Kimberly CerrutiPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of Portland Holy Cross Scholarship

Taylor ChavezCalifornia Scholarship FederationLoyola Marymount University Achievement AwardPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Carina ChiodoPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Sarah ClakleyCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServicePresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardPrudential Spirit of Community Awards Certificate of MeritSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Kelly ClawsonPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Deirdre CluteBank of America Achievement Award Art CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSalutatorian Candidate

Hayley CollinsBank of America Achievement Award Music Certificate

Christine ConnollyCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Merit Scholarship Program FinalistPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of Oklahoma National Merit Scholarship

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Meghan CooneyABC 7 Top Scholars NomineeBank of America Achievement Award

Mathematics CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Merit Scholarship Program Commended StudentPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardValedictorian Candidate

Julie CoxPresident's Volunteer Service AwardRegis College Catholic High School Award

Kayla CraigPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Laura CruzChapman University Academic Competitiveness Grant Chapman University GrantsPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Nina Dal BelloPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Alyssa DaleyPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Ava DeMartiniCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Emily DeSimonePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Alexandria DevinePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Ellese DiasCalifornia State Senate Certificate

of Recognition for ServiceCalifornia State University,

Sacramento Athletic ScholarshipPresident's Lifetime

Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo

Vista Community Service Award

Chloe DobbertClaremont McKenna College GrantNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational

Achievement

Elizabeth DriscollCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational

ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Megan DunningNational Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student

Alyssa EnriquezPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Emma FaheyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Teresa FerranteCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSaint Mary's College of California Gael ScholarshipSaint Mary's College of California GrantsSaint Mary's College of California Scholarship

Jessica FitchPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Annarose FountainBank of America Achievement Award English CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Leslie GalvezPresident's Volunteer Service AwardSan Francisco State University Grant

Jaynelle GarciaCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of San Francisco Academic Merit Award

Courtney GeggABC 7 Top Scholars NomineeBank of America Achievement Award

Social Studies CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationCarondelet High School

Senior Athlete AwardComcast Leaders and Achievers ScholarshipJefferson Awards

Students in Action RecognitionNational Honor SocietyNational Honor Society Scholarship NomineePresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardValedictorian

Michelle GeronimoPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of San Francisco

Academic Merit Award

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

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Rachel GervolinoCalifornia Scholarship FederationColombo Club and Colombo Club Auxiliary ScholarshipItalian Catholic Federation Mary and Bill Segale

Memorial ScholarshipNational Honor SocietyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Grace GoodwinLoyola Marymount University Achievement AwardPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Alexandra GouletGonzaga University Dean ScholarshipPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Anita GrobelnyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Julie HamiltonPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Lauren HoganCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Nicole HoodBank of America Achievement Award

Mathematics CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationDeloitte Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact

Competitor Scholarship FinalistNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles Athletic ScholarshipWendy's High School Heisman Award State Finalist

Shaina HurleyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Allison IpsenCalifornia Scholarship FederationClaremont McKenna College

Interdisciplinary Science ScholarClaremont McKenna College

Interdisciplinary Science ScholarshipPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Gianna JanneyBoston College GrantsCalifornia Scholarship FederationCarondelet Parents' Association ScholarshipItalian Catholic Federation First Year Scholarship Branch 214President's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSons of Italy Western Foundation Fosca Van Donella

Memorial Scholarship

Paige JefferyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Carly JenkinsonCollege of Mount Saint Vincent Erasmus Honors ScholarshipCollege of Mount Saint Vincent

Sr. Mary David Barry Scholarship

Adrienne JohnsonBank of America Achievement Award Science CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Achievement Program Scholarship National Honor SocietyNational Merit Scholarship Program FinalistPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSalutatorianValedictorian Candidate

Kirsten JohnsonCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kathryn KernsPresident's Volunteer Service AwardSaint Mary's College of California Gael ScholarshipSaint Mary's College of California Scholarship

Kelsey KileyBank of America Achievement Award

Modern Languages CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kristin LamCalifornia Scholarship FederationCIF/Farmers Scholar-Athlete of the Year CandidateNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational Excellence

Melissa LambPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

14

Brianna LampeCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Jenna LandryCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServiceSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Katherine LenciPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Isabella LewCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of Portland Holy Cross Scholarship

Catherine LlevanoCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Stacy LombardoPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Christina LopezCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona GrantPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Jennifer MacyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Tara MaherPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Katherine MalonePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Lauren MangononPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Stephanie MarcinkowskiCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of the Pacific President's ScholarUniversity of the Pacific President's Scholarship

Jordan MasaykoPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Sarah MasonCalifornia Scholarship FederationLoyola Marymount University Arrupe ScholarLoyola Marymount University Arrupe ScholarshipPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kathryn McCormickCarondelet High School Principal's AwardDaughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen AwardPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSalutatorian CandidateSanta Clara University SCU Preferred Scholarship

Audrey McEachranPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Margaret McFarrenPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of California, Santa Cruz

Academic Competitiveness GrantUniversity of California, Santa Cruz Grants

Maura McLaffertyGonzaga University Achievement ScholarshipPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Tatum McMahonKentucky Wesleyan College Art ScholarshipKentucky Wesleyan College Athletic ScholarshipKentucky Wesleyan College Faculty GrantPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Lauren McQuistonCalifornia Scholarship FederationSaint Mary's College of California Gael ScholarshipSaint Mary's College of California Scholarship

Mackensie MendelsonUniversity of Arizona Excellence Award

Caitlyn MerlettiPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

15

Natalie PiwekCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServicePresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Camille PorterPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Jordan PouliotPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Shelby Marie PunuCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of California, Davis

Entering Undergraduate Scholarship

Danielle RabagoPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Erika RadanovichCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellenceSanta Clara University Athletic ScholarshipWendy's High School Heisman Award Honoree

Rachel ReillyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Marisela ReynosoPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Noelle RiccoPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Katlyn RobbinsPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Raeanna RockwellPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Brianna RodriguesCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of Portland Holy Cross Scholarship

Courtney RodriguezPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Bianca Carmel RomanaNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Veronica RomeroCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Madeline MillsCalifornia School Employees Association

Scholarship, Antioch Chapter 85 President's Volunteer Service Award

Salwa MunirCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Olivia MurrayPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kathleen NejedlyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Taylor NelsonCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Erin O'DeaCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Katherine O'ReganPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Samantha PaduaCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Chelsea ParrottCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of California, Santa Barbara GrantsUniversity of California, Santa Barbara

New Freshmen Scholarship

Jessica PearsonCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Franchesca Nicole PenaCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServicePresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Hillary PetersPresident's Volunteer Service AwardSaint Mary's College of California Scholarship

Bridget PetersonPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Cassandra PianettaCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

16

Ashley SantosPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa

Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship

Melanie SartiCalifornia Scholarship FederationItalian Catholic Federation

Cliff Ledford Memorial ScholarshipNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Stefani ScalettiBank of America Achievement Award

Modern Languages CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationJefferson Awards for Public Service

Certificate of ExcellenceJohn Cabot University, Rome Presidential ScholarshipPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Amanda ScrabisBank of America Achievement Award

Religious Studies CertificatePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Victoria SelwayCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServicePresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Ashley SheaffBank of America Achievement Award English CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationCarondelet Parents' Association ScholarshipPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardWashington University in Saint Louis

Danforth Scholars' Nominee

Megan RossoniBank of America Achievement Award Music CertificateHoly Names University Scholarship

Gabrielle RubioPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of the Pacific Grant

Danielle RybaABC 7 Top Scholars NomineeBank of America Achievement Award

Science CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationCarondelet High School Fontbonne AwardFireside Catholic Publishing Essay

Scholarship NomineeItalian Catholic Federation Mary and Joseph

Bottarini Memorial ScholarshipJohn Muir Medical Center Auxiliary

Student Volunteer ScholarshipNational Honor SocietyNational Honor Society Scholarship NomineeNational Merit Scholarship Program FinalistPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardUCLA Freshman Scholarship District WinnerValedictorian CandidateWashington University in Saint Louis

Danforth Scholars' Nominee

Emily SabahPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Stephanie SalasCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServicePresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Alyssa SamsonCalifornia Scholarship FederationDominican University of California Dean's ScholarshipDominican University of California Dominican GrantPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kristin SanchezPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Corinne SandeenPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Courtney SantCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service AwardSaint Mary's College of California GrantsSaint Mary's College of California Scholarship

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

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Rachel StevensBank of America Achievement Award

Social Studies CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationNational Honor SocietyOlympic Club Foundation

Brian Ohleyer Memorial Award NomineePresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardValedictorian Candidate

Jennifer StuckerPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Annette StullPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Brittany SugruePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Rachel TakataCalifornia Scholarship FederationCarondelet Parents' Association ScholarshipPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Megan TalmadgePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kathryn TeixeiraAuburn University Academic GuaranteeAuburn University Academic Presidential ScholarAuburn University Academic Presidential ScholarshipAuburn University Honors CollegeCalifornia Scholarship FederationCarondelet High School Carondelet AwardJohn Muir Medical Center Auxiliary

Student Volunteer ScholarshipNASSP and Herff Jones Principal's

Leadership Award NomineeNational Hispanic Recognition Program ScholarNational Honor SocietyPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service Award

Jasmine TengsicoCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Madeleine ThibaultBank of America Achievement Award

Religious Studies CertificateCarondelet Parents' Association ScholarshipPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Lianna ShoreenPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Stephanie ShowingCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServiceDominican University of California Dominican ScholarshipPresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Katelyn SiriPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Alexandra SitovPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Alexandra SolakBecas Hispanicas, Inc. GrantPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Fernilla Victoria SolinapCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service AwardUniversity of California, Merced

Academic Competitiveness GrantUniversity of California, Merced Benton ScholarshipUniversity of California, Merced Bobcat ScholarshipUniversity of California, Merced Grants

Jennifer SozaCalifornia Scholarship FederationLoyola Marymount University Achievement AwardLoyola Marymount University Supplemental AwardPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Audrey Spencer-AlvaradoCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardSanta Clara University GrantSanta Clara University SCU Grant

Caroline SperbeckPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Sinead StarnesCalifornia Scholarship FederationLoyola Marymount University

Achievement AwardLoyola Marymount University

Supplemental AwardPresident's Award for

Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer

Service Award

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

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Erin YoungmanPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kathryn ZahorakPresident's Volunteer Service AwardSarah Lawrence College Grant

Helen ZhuBank of America Achievement Award Science CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationCalifornia State Senate Certificate of Recognition for ServiceNational Honor SocietyNational Honor Society Scholarship NomineePresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Lifetime Volunteer Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Sarah ZiemerPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Janae ZumboPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Christine TormeyBank of America Achievement Award

Mathematics CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationChevron Retirees Association Scholarship,

Contra Costa ChapterNational Honor SocietyNational Merit Scholarship Program Commended StudentPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardValedictorian Candidate

Seanne Rachel TsaiBank of America Achievement Award Dance CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Award for Educational AchievementPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Kelly UrbanPresident's Award for Educational Achievement

Maria Victoria VizcarraCalifornia Scholarship FederationPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Michelle WatsonCalifornia State Senate Certificate of

Recognition for ServicePresident's Lifetime Volunteer

Service AwardSoroptimist International of Diablo Vista

Community Service Award

Amanda WeselohPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Amanda WesterlundPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Lesya WestermanAP ScholarBank of America Achievement Award

Art CertificateNational Honor Society

Brittany WhicherPresident's Volunteer Service Award

Katelyn WilliamsBank of America Achievement Award

Mathematics CertificateCalifornia Scholarship FederationCalifornia-Hawaii Elks Association

Most Valuable Student AwardNational Merit Scholarship Program FinalistPresident's Award for Educational ExcellencePresident's Volunteer Service AwardPrinceton University GrantValedictorian Candidate

Shanna WinerUniversity of Arizona Excellence Award

Class of 2010 Honors and Awards

The bulletin board outside the College and Career Center celebrates the graduates' college acceptances.

19

Steinbrecher, "especially the Digital Short. It was hilarious." Inspired by Saturday Night Live's comedic shorts, senior Margaret McFarren directed the piece to personify the many websites we see online.

Concluding the Forum, students presented a Spoken Word and Dance combination, depicting the role of spirituality in our digital lives. This highlighted one of the themes the Forum was geared to examine: spirituality and morality online. This year, the Forum’s Biblical text was taken from Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.”

As human creatures, students were challenged to remember that, on the other side of the screen, there is another face

It 's not often that a high school administration will let students create

an entire assembly on a topic of their own choosing, with performances and films crafted by students and an open discussion featuring student experts. But Carondelet's administration allows students to do exactly that with the Fontbonne Forum, an annual special-interest forum garnered to challenge our way of thinking on a particular social issue.

Past Fontbonne Forums have responded to consumerism, gossip and stress. The 2010 forum, dubbed "Living Digital: Programmed to Plug In," addressed our digital culture.

Students chose the topic to cater to a community of both digital natives and digital learners. In a school where the use of technology continues to expand, where students claim addictions to both their cell phones and Facebook, everyone could relate to the issue.

But what was most unique—and most praised—about the Forum was that the students created it, almost completely. With oversight by faculty advisors Dr. Michael Murphy and Mr. Andrew Kjera, more than 30 students researched the topic and mapped out the event. Since late September, the students worked on making the Forum truly spectacular while keeping it a complete secret.

As part of the Forum, a student panel presented three opinions on the role of technology in our everyday lives. Then, students and teachers were invited to voice their opinions to the assembly.

In addition to the discussion, the Forum included film documentary, comedy and live performances. "The videos were my favorite part," said sophomore Stephanie

that we don't always remember. While technology is in a state of exponential growth, we have to hold on to the values which make us inherently human, in relationship with one another and with God, in whom we live, move, and have our being.

After the event, to continue the Forum in the school, the Fontbonne

students conducted a Parent Night, which showcased a condensed version of the Forum to the school community's parents. Now, with the ability to work from home, many parents found the issue as relatable to them as to their children.

Finally, Fontbonne students issued a challenge to the school community: Rather than sending a text message or email, take the time to handwrite an actual letter to someone in your life. Giving their peers the chance to connect with people in a way that has become almost foreign to them, the Fontbonne students distributed postcards and offered to pay the postage.

Although Facebook is still popular and cell phones are still confiscated in the school hallways, the Fontbonne Forum helped students gain a new awareness of digital media. And though the impact is intangible, it is there. Senior Isabella Lew said, "It made me realize the good and bad of technology—things I never really thought of before."

This is the true purpose of the Forum, to allow students to learn and grow as individual thinkers and to inspire them to seek knowledge. "For me, it modeled the greatest learning of all," Mr. Joseph Silveira said of the Forum. "Ask a question and never rest until you arrive at a myriad of plausible solutions, varied points of view, and new possibilities."

The Fontbonne Forum: Are We Programmed to Plug In?

By Bianca Romana, Class of 2010

"Woman of heart, woman of faith, woman of courage." Mother St. John Fontbonne, a Sister of St. Joseph of Le Puy, was a woman of courage and faith who defied and survived the French Revolution. With a gentle, generous heart, she founded over 200 religious houses in France and later sent six women to begin a new ministry in Carondelet, Missouri. In her memory, Carondelet High School students produce the Fontbonne Forum every other year.

Sister Eleanor photographed this portrait of Mother St. John Fontbonne, in her room in Lyons.

Recycling used computer parts, Forum students built and displayed the imposing "Tech Cube" or "Digital Deity." An effective addition to the Forum, the imposing display succeeded in capturing attention and initiating conversation.

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Sports is more than a source of personal joy and fulfillment for [Carondelet

alumna] Anne Stricherz [’92]. It’s also an important way to reach the teenagers she teaches.

“I’m talking about spirituality with students every day,” said Stricherz, who teaches religious studies to juniors and seniors at San Francisco’s St. Ignatius College Preparatory and helps coach the girls’ cross-country team. “I often use the language of sports, since it’s something they’re comfortable with.”

It’s something the 35-year-old Stricherz is comfortable with herself. A 1996 graduate of Notre Dame University who cheerfully admits that she still “bleeds blue and gold,” she rowed crew for the Fighting Irish. As a runner for most of her life, that’s something else she has in common with the girls she coaches.

“It’s important to meet students where they are,” she said. “You talk about becoming spiritual, but you can make it personal by bringing in something that’s familiar to them.”

Stricherz started thinking about the sports angle to her classes when she began using Brennan Hill’s 2002 book “Eight Spiritual Heroes: Their Search for God,” in her “Path to Faith” class for seniors.

The book focuses on people like Mother Teresa, Edith Stern, Archbishop Oscar Romero and Martin Luther King— men and women of strong faith who often suffered for their beliefs.

But while her students can appreciate the work and dedication of a Dorothy Day, it’s hard for a teenager to feel a personal connection to someone who lived a life so utterly different from anything they can imagine.

“For young people today, their heroes are athletes, celebrities and musicians,” people who often aren’t the best role models, Stricherz said. “I decided to try and find others who are living their lives differently.”

The idea that Oakland A’s prospect Grant Desme could give up a career in major league baseball to enter the seminary is mind-boggling to high school students who dream of a career in professional sports. Then there’s former

Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow of Florida, who’s so comfortable in his Christianity that he puts Bible verses in his eye black. Or former Notre Dame All-American Ruth Riley, a WNBA all-star who spends her off-seasons traveling to Third World countries to push for health efforts like the battle against malaria.

It’s important to show students that living life as an athlete and living life as a Christian aren’t mutually exclusive, but that one can balance the other, Stricherz said.

Stricherz often uses a quote from the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire to illustrate the link between religion and sports. In the film, Eric Liddell, a real-life Olympian from the 1920s, is explaining how his athletic career doesn’t conflict with his plan to become a minister. “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast,” Liddell says. “And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

The quote has a personal message for Stricherz, who wears a medal her grandfather, John Naughton, won in 1921 as a half-miler in the Irish Athletic Championships. Her grandfather ran against the Scottish Liddell during his career.

Stricherz, a native of Walnut Creek, grew up with sports. Her father was a football coach and a Pac-10 referee and she played tennis and ran as a student at Carondelet High School in Concord.

After graduating from college, she spent two years teaching at a Catholic

school outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a volunteer in Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education program. Stricherz did development work at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward before taking the teaching job at St. Ignatius seven years ago.

While teaching is important, the example she sets outside the classroom means just as much to the students, she said. As a cross-country coach, Stricherz runs with her team and talks with the girls.

“I might talk to them about the music I heard at Mass on Sunday or about a retreat I went on,” she said. “I invite them to share that part of my life.”

Stricherz wants the students she teaches and coaches to realize that religion isn’t just something you talk about in a class or deal with for an hour on Sunday.

“Being Catholic to me is a primary part of my identity,” she said. “Being a Catholic is who I am and everything comes from that.”

Stricherz is currently working on a book about sports and spirituality and is interviewing athletes about how they keep religion as an important part of their public lives. She also writes a “Sports and Spirituality” blog, which looks at sports, athletes and religion, with the occasional detour into Notre Dame athletics. “The blog keeps me going and keeps me writing,” Stricherz said.

But it’s the daily work with her teenage students that continues to

drive her. For many of them, religion is something they don’t think about too much, something that’s not really part of their daily lives.

Stricherz wants to change that and if it helps her students to compare religion to football, both team efforts with certain agreed-upon rules, well, that’s fine.

“The question I want my students to answer is ‘What does it mean to be a Catholic in America today?’” she said. “When you look at people of faith, is there a difference? Can you see it?

“You can’t force teenagers” to become more spiritual, Stricherz said, “but you can guide them. It takes time, trust, conversation and an interest in them and their interests.”

“What’s it mean to be Catholic in America?”By John Wildermuth, Catholic San Francisco, March 12, 2010 (Reprinted with permission.)

21

Catching UpBy Jayne Appel '06

Wow! What a whirlwind of events has taken place in my life throughout these past couple of weeks. The amount of time I had to make the mental transition between being a Stanford University student athlete to becoming a professional athlete and playing for the San Antonio Silver Stars was minimal. I decided to make this blog about how crazy that time period is for every rookie coming out of college and making that change. Shout out to all the rookies who survived it along with me!

We finished our NCAA Championship game against Connecticut at 10:30

p.m. at the Alamodome. I was clearly full of so many emotions at that time that I didn't even know how to express them. I had just lost my final game wearing a Stanford uniform. I was going to be leaving my teammates and best friends in a matter of hours, leaving me with feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. To top it off, I was pondering when to inform the public (and everyone outside of my parents and teammates, for that matter) just how bad my injury was throughout the tournament. I was so nervous, yet relieved, that I didn't have to hide the fact that I had a stress fracture throughout the entire tournament and had just experienced a third degree ankle sprain in the championship game. Trust me, trying to hide an injury like that from the press every day gets tiring! I've had some people ask me why I did this. My answer: I wanted to keep the focus purely on the games and our goal.

I left my teammates the next morning at 4AM, heading to the airport and not wanting to see anyone except for those wearing Cardinal red. I flew to New Jersey and had about an hour to get ready for the NBA Store promotional WNBA event. I was exhausted! It was fun going to the city and seeing all the other draftees and everyone involved in the WNBA.

The draft was the following morning! I was so excited that it was finally here and just told myself to be open to anything and pray that my name would be called! After our walkthrough of what would happen and some time spent practicing walking around in one boot and one heel (it’s more challenging than it looks!),

we were brought to our table and the official draft began. I sat with my parents and [Stanford Associate Head Coach] Amy [Tucker], with other support in the stands behind us as well. When my name was finally called I was so relieved and excited to be a Silver Star! I honestly thought that it would be a fabulous fit. I also would be returning to where I had just come from, San Antonio, the NCAA Final Four city that did a tremendous job in sponsoring the whole event.

After my name was called, I was walked through interviews, did a live feed with some San Antonio fans who were at a promotional event and took pictures with the people who came to support me at the draft. That night I

went to a celebration dinner in New York. Dang, they have some good restaurants in that city!

The following two days were filled with rookie orientation and so much information. My brain was on overload and I was still sleep deprived, but I was hanging in there and knew I was so blessed to be in my position. I was finally talked into getting a Twitter account (@jayneappel) and was told that I would create a retirement fund for myself at the age of 21—two things I honestly never thought would happen!

I was able to head home for two days where I was met with more stuff to do before heading off to San Antonio! I became a godmother and went to my godson's Baptism, I met all the new pledges of Pi Beta Phi (my sorority) at Stanford, and gave my final, and very emotional, speech at the Stanford Women’s Basketball banquet.

Af te r those busy days a t h o m e , I w a s finally off to San Antonio. I have been able to get settled and begun to feel like a real person again, not one living out of a suitcase.

S l o w l y , I a m s t a r t i n g t o d i s c o v e r San Anton io , including the best restaurants,

a place to practice my bikram yoga and finding charities and causes that I want to get involved with. It has been a busy, blessed, and eventful couple of weeks! Training camp was very competitive for our team. I wish I could have been playing in it! As a competitive person, it was hard being patient with an injury, but I was continually reminded that a “slow and steady” recovery will allow for proper healing.

The season is just now starting and I couldn't be more excited to get back on the floor and play ball. Until that time, I will be cheering and supporting my teammates who are competing. Our fans were tremendous at the first game and it was quite an experience!

Until next time, let's go Stars!

Photo courtesy of Rob Ericson, Stanford University

As a basketball player at Carondelet, Jayne wore number 3. At Stanford, she wore 2. For her pro career, Jayne chose number 32, which was also her father's number when he played basketball.

22

Carondelet Athletes Hit Great Heights

ERIN BOETTCHERClass of 2010

BasketballA four-year varsity player,

Erin had a great senior year. MVP of the season (with 393 points and 285 rebounds) and MVP in the Nor-Cal and State Championship games, she was also the best defensive player of the year. A center, her game high this season was 21 points and 16 rebounds. Erin signed with the University of New Mexico women's basketball program and will join the Lobos in the fall.

MARY WHATFORD '74Basketball

One of Carondelet’s first big names in basketball, Mary Whatford paved the way for many athletes who came later. For example, as a CHS student, Mary attended a basketball camp hosted by Rick Barry. Though more than 100 basketball players attended the camp, Mary was the only girl!

Today, Mary works at the Contra Costa County Recorders Office but continues to work as a college basketball referee, flying all over the West Coast to officiate at games, many of which are televised. Mary has found a unique way to make a career out of her love for the game!

THE COUGARSBasketball

The Cougars roared into Sacramento’s Arco Arena in March to defend their title as the California Interscholastic Federation NorCal basketball champions. And they did. Carondelet squeaked out a 40-38 win over Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, prompting the Contra Costa Times to note, “Carondelet posts Erica Payne and Erin Boettcher were outstanding.”

The team has been EBAL, NCS and Nor-Cal champions three years in a row and made it to State two years in a row. This year, in the last regular-season game, key player Erika Radanovich broke her arm, and junior Erica Payne stepped up throughout the playoffs. The team won the NorCal title but lost the State Championship to Mater Dei. Despite Erika Radanovich's injury, she was a key team member who will go on to play basketball for Santa Clara University on an athletic scholarship.

The NorCal basketball champions celebrate their win at the Arco Arena in Sacramento.

LEXY TAMONY '94Basketball

After a stand-out basketball career at Carondelet, Lexy Tamony played three seasons at Cal, and then she embarked on a teaching career. From 1999 to 2008, Lexy was an Associate Head Coach for the Cougars. For the past two years, she has been the Athletic Director at Notre Dame-Belmont. Lexy has just been hired as the new Basketball Coach for Heritage High School, where she will also teach math.

We believe in an environment which nurtures personal well-being and healthy lifestyles. Therefore, a Carondelet student is a practitioner of healthy lifestyles who:...Maintains lifelong health and fitness through exercise, healthy eating, and respect for the body;...Understands the harmful effects of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs;...Practices good sportsmanship as a participant and a spectator;. . .Attains social maturity through positive relationships with people of diverse backgrounds.

—From the Carondelet High SchoolPhilosophy/Student Learning Expectations

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Joining the U.S. national soccer team when she was just 16 years old, Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak played on the team for 10 years, winning the United States' first gold medal in women's soccer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The team also won gold at the 1998 Goodwill Games and won the World Cup championship in 1999. Tiffany attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and helped her team win the NCAA championship twice. Chosen to play on the All-ACC team four times and the All-American team twice, Tiffany was one of the founding players of the Women's United Soccer Association and played on the All-Star Team twice. Today, she is the Co-head Coach of Women’s Soccer at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. As a scholar athlete herself, she recently was the featured speaker at the Richmond Times Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet.

Starting in her freshman year at Carondelet, Adrienne Johnson played varsity soccer and participated in track and field. As a sprinter, she also competed in the long jump and, her favorite event, the high jump. After four NCS championships in the high jump, Adrienne consistently qualified for the CIF State Track and Field Championships.

In her junior year, Adrienne gave up soccer after sustaining a knee injury. Focusing on Track & Field, Adrienne took first place at the State meet in 2009, in spite of her knee injury. According to Coach Triss Carter, Adrienne's injury limited her training this year, but she is "such a great athlete that she competed at a high level all season." She even broke a 28-year EBAL record in the long jump, with a jump of 18’ 1-3/4" at the EBAL Championships.

Photo courtesy of Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com

HEATHER CERNEY, Class of 2010Track & Field and Cross Country

This spring, Heather Cerney led the Carondelet Track & Field distance runners at the Stanford Invitational, where she finished second with a time of 5:04 in the mile. A seasoned, four-year varsity member of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams, Heather played a key role in Carondelet's victory at the 2006 State Champion's Cross Country Meet—when she was a freshman.

Heather is competing at Golden West Adidas Invitational in June. Then, in the fall, she will trade in her Cougar red and whites for the Blue and Gold of the Cal Bears, as she will be attending UC Berkeley as a member of Cal's Cross Country and Track teams.

The ever-smiling Adrienne embraces her family—her sister Erica and parents, Bill Johnson and Gretchen Graves.

At the 2010 State Meet, Adrienne jumped 5'6" to place 8th. The winner jumped her personal best, 5'10", which was also Adrienne's personal record. (She jumped 5'10" in 2008 at a league meet at DeLa Salle.) Her best jump this year was 5'8".

Adrienne maintained an A average all eight semesters at Carondelet. She also plays alto and tenor saxophone and bass and contra bass clarinet as a member of the Marching and Concert Bands, directed by Larry Colon at De La Salle. In the fall, Adrienne will attend Stanford University, competing in track and field for the Cardinal.

TIFFANY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK '95Soccer

ADRIENNE JOHNSON, Class of 2010Track & Field

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A member of the coaching staff at UC Santa Barbara, Katy Freeman also continues to compete in the pool. An All-American in the 200 breaststroke and a member of the United States’ World University Games team in 2009, Katy competed with Team USA in the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool last December. With Katy in third place, the American women swept the 100 breaststroke.

As a UCSB athlete, Katy competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008, placing 10th in the 200 breast. At the U.S. Open that year, she took third in the 200 and fifth in the 100, and placed 11th in the 200 in the NCAA Division I Championships, earning Honorable

NATALIE COUGHLIN '00Swimming

Naming the top swimmers of the decade, USA Swimming crowned the women’s list with our own Natalie Coughlin as the top female swimmer of the decade. The list included swimmers who “have assembled aquatic resumes that go far beyond mere moments of greatness,” reported Splash magazine. “They dominated their events for the better part of a decade.”

Such is the case with Natalie. “In the fly, back and free….Coughlin has long

been among the very best on earth," the magazine said. "Not since the days of Tracy Caulkins has a female swimmer been so insanely good at so many events.”

After a respectable showing on "Dancing with the Stars" last fall, Natalie dove back into the pool, training for the 2012 London Olympics. Adding to her medal count, Natalie could become the most decorated American female swimmer of all time. Already, she has earned 11 Olympic medals, including back-to-back golds in the 100-meter backstroke in 2004 and 2008.

This spring, a Southern California swimmer shaved a full second off of Natalie's 1998 national record in the 100-yard back. Hopefully, this challenge will add fuel to Natalie's fire as she sizzles her way to London.

Carondelet's Swimming & Diving Team won the NCS Championship this spring and, while they were at it, the 200-yard medley relay team—Madison White, Allison Gargalikis, Christina Ray and Chelsea Chenault—broke a national record. Chelsea also broke an NCS record in the 500-yard freestyle.

All of the Carondelet swimmers at NCS swam their seasonal "personal bests." In addition to the relay team, the NCS team included Maddie Benavidez, Devon Chiapello, Deirdre Clute, Megan Fuqua, Peyton Hunziker, Katherine Maloney, Kendra Prutton, Taylor Shackleton, and Christy Tormey. Also, Diver Brooke Osborn placed in the top ten at NCS.

Last November, Madison White, Allison Gargalikis and Chelsea Chenault participated in the World Cup in Stockholm, Sweden and Berlin, Germany as part of the Junior National USA team. In Sweden, Chelsea finished seventh in the 400 free and Madison finished seventh in the 200 back. Allison had the fastest reaction time off the block of any female at the event. In the end, Chelsea qualified in the 200 free & 400 free, Madison qualified in the 200 back, and Allison in the 100 breast. The three swimmers have been selected to represent the USA in another international meet coming up in June in Barcelona, Spain.

CHELSEA CHENAULT Class of 2013,ALLISON GARGALIKIS Class of 2011,

and MADISON WHITE Class of 2013Swimming & Diving Team

KATY FREEMAN ’05Swimming

Mention All-American accolades. She also won the 200 IM at the Big West Championship and holds the BWC meet record—and the school record—in the 100 and 200 breast.

Also in 2008, Katy earned the Golden Eagle Ring Award for having the highest GPA of all UCSB female athletes. Majoring in Sociocultural Linguistics, she earned Dean's List honors. In 2006, as the Big West Champion in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, Katy was named the Big West Freshman of the Year.

Natalie Coughlin won five medals, including two gold, at the Athens Olympics in 2004. She won six more, including another gold, at Beijing in 2008.

Wearing their Team USA sweats, Chelsea Chenault, Allison Gargalikis and Madison White are ready to leave for the World Cup meet.

Chelsea, in lane one, prepares to swim in the World Cup in Stockholm, Sweden.

Katy had the highest GPA of all

UCSB female athletes.

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A Stanford freshman, Ca ronde l e t a lumna Ashley Morgan was honored in February as Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week. At her first collegiate meet, against the powerhouse Georgia team (which had won the past five NCAA titles), Ashley blew them away. She put up the highest individual score and highest scoring average of the meet: 9.83, with 9.875 on the vault.

During high school, Ashley won five state golds and the 2007

national title on the floor. A four-time Junior Olympic national qualifier, she placed third all-around at the 2009 Junior Olympic nationals, earning a spot on the team. Stanford awarded her a full athletic scholarship.

ASHLEY MORGAN ’09Gymnastics

LINDSAY CROSS '09Dance

By Jessica Smith ‘99, Carondelet Dance Coach

Watching Lindsay Cross grow into an amazing dancer, I also saw her become a very capable and inspirational woman. I first noticed her talent when she came to Carondelet’s dance tryouts as a freshman. I’d never taken a freshman on varsity before and my instinct was to watch for the strong talent among the upperclassmen. However, during the tryouts, I could not keep my attention off Lindsay, who quickly proved that she could hold her own against our team's best seniors. That year, I took my first freshman on varsity—and I never regretted that decision.

As Lindsay’s dance coach for four years, I got to know her very well. With a mature demeanor and personality, she danced with the strength and technical ability of a much older dancer. An incredible motivator, she pushed her team to reach their full potential. A coach’s dream, Lindsay had little ego despite so much talent, and she would even give up her position in a formation if she felt that another teammate was better suited for the job. Among dancers, this was unique! Lindsay set high standards for her teammates, surpassing them only by her expectations of herself. Her senior year, her teammates honored Lindsay's motivational spirit and passion for dance by selecting her as captain, a position she more than deserved.

One of the best-trained dancers I have ever coached, Lindsay's exquisite technical ability, sense of center and unbelievable control over her body enabled her to perform very advanced skills. Indeed, she mastered every skill or style that I gave her, picking up material almost instantly. She adjusted to any routine and understood its importance. With energy and power behind her motions, she connected with the audience and stood out on a team of very talented dancers. I can confidently say that Lindsay is one of the best dancers I've ever coached or, for that matter, ever seen.

Class of 2010 Collegiate Athletes Soccer

Maria Bellafronte—Diablo Valley CollegeKristin Lam—Dartmouth College

Lauren McQuiston—Saint Mary's College of California

BasketballErin Boettcher—University of New MexicoErika Radanovich—Santa Clara University

CheerKatherine Malone—Arizona State University

DanceStephanie Marcinkowski—University of the Pacific

Golf Ellese Dias—California State University, Sacramento

Swimming Deirdre Clute—Harvard College

Tennis Chloe Dobbert—Claremont McKenna College

Tatum McMahon—Kentucky Wesleyan

Track & FieldAdrienne Johnson—Stanford

Track & Field and Cross CountryHeather Cerney—University of California, BerkeleyNicole Hood—University of California, Los Angeles

Volleyball Meghan Cooney—Dartmouth College

DanceChampions! Carondelet's 2010 Large Varsity Song/Pom Intermediate Team and Advanced Small Varsity Song/Pom Team took first place at the USA Nationals! Here, Coach Jessica Smith celebrates with the champions.

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CHS Facilitates Family LiturgiesStudents and Parents Grow in their Bond

Winter: Mother-Daughter Retreat Cecilia: I'm sure that all of us mothers

recall the moment when our daughters were born. I immediately felt a strong need to protect the vulnerable bundle of love that God had put in my arms. I dedicated my time and energy to providing everything she needed. Soon, she began to crawl, pull herself up and take her first steps, in a motion towards independence that is likely peaking now. I still hold that vision of the vulnerable newborn but , by g rowing up , she awakened me from that vision. I have had to realize that she has her own vision and that, one day, she would pull herself up and take her first steps towards adulthood.

Christina: It didn’t seem that I had to wake my mom up from a dream; it was more like a coma! Sometimes, mothers hold on to the vision of the dependent child for so long, they can’t see that the child is ready to become a woman. It took my mom a while to realize that I was my own person, not a mini-Cecilia.

Cecilia: I knew you were not a mini-Cecilia! But I did not know that your ideals would be so different from mine. After all, I had always passed along the values and traditions that I hold dear!

Christina: Mother! You make me sound like a sculpture for Miller’s class!

Cecilia: It was hard for me that you formed your own beliefs, based on your experiences. I had to try to listen to

Fall: Mother-Daughter Liturgy

Dialogue/Reflection by Christina Lopez, Class of 2010,

and her Mother, Cecilia

your ideas, no matter how bizarre they seemed.

Christina: Questioning my faith is not that bizarre, Mom…

Cecilia: No, but for someone who almost became a nun, I found it hard not to overreact to your doubts.

Christina: But, when you didn’t overreact, it was easier to talk. Discussing, rather than arguing, helped us understand where

we were coming from. Then, I felt like you treated me like an adult, who had a say in her life.

Cecilia: Even when we do not see eye-to-eye, it is important for me to connect with you, to be present, to tune-in to you.

Christina: Like any re la t ionship , our bond relies on good communication and respect. It’s hard, s o m e t i m e s , f o r daughters to express

themselves to their moms, but mutual respect keeps communication open and non-threatening.

Cecilia: I learned to quiet my mind so I can listen to your heart, understand you, and learn to love the ways in which you differ from me. Then I can keep our communication open and answer honestly when you ask my opinion.

Christina: Sometimes, our time together is rushed but we make the most of it with simple activities that help strengthen our bond. Through ordinary time together, you taught me things that 13 years of Catholic school could not. Family bonds guide us in all of our relationships; if we respect and love our family, we’ll be more likely to do the same for others.

Cecilia: Christie, for 17 years you have challenged me to grow and listen, and to respect you. You took me on my own, unexpected journey towards maturity. I still want to protect you and guide you,

"You must understand that I have always loved you. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you came to birth I consecrated you and chose you to be a part of My life...even now I am constant in my affections for you...

—From the Book of Jeremiah

The Carondelet Mother/Daughter Retreat in February provided a renewing, relaxing, and spiritually enriching atmosphere in which students and their mothers explored, affirmed, and celebrated the unique bond in their relationships.

This special morning helped mothers and daughters to focus on each other and to acknowledge and appreciate their relationship. The "Light of Connection" retreat emphasized gratitude for our most enduring relationships—as individuals in a relationship with our mothers and daughters, as well as in a relationship with God.

Sister Carol Quinliven led the retreat, using humor and ice breakers as well as time for reflection and introspection. One of her lessons helped the women recognize the "tapes we play in our heads," which feed us erroneous or unconstructive thoughts and feelings, influencing our own lives and our relationships. The

"May the light of your soul guide you. May you be given wisdom with the eye of your soul to recognize the presence of God."

—Retreat Handout

but I have learned that you must be free to pursue the dreams that God has placed in your heart. As you reach for them, I will always be here to listen, to support you and, above all, to love you.

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Spring: Father-Daughter Liturgy

Reflection by Danielle Ryba, Class of 2010

The gardener in the Gospel never gives up on the unfruitful tree, nursing it to fruition. In the same way, my father and I have worked on and nurtured the garden that is our relationship.

Let me tell you, having a father-daughter relationship is not always easy! My dad and I have f o u n d t h a t , b y making efforts to spend time together, we strengthen our b o n d . B u t w e have very similar temperaments, so if one of us gets frustrated at the other, an argument will ensue. However, our similarities make us closer and I now trust that my dad will lead me in the right direction.To this day, he always does.

My dad has always been there for me, whether he was trying to explain how to graph a parabola or introducing me to the life lessons in the movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! Of many things my dad has taught me, one of the most important is to have confidence in myself. He has always encouraged me to dream big.

As I have grown older, I cherished my time with my dad even more. I know that when I go to college in the fall, I will miss having my dad around to give me advice, help me with homework, or just to talk with. College is one big question mark. I know that I will never be entirely sure of how to handle whatever is thrown my way, but I will be sure that the bond between my father and I will never weaken. It will become stronger as the years pass and, with some hard work, our garden will continue to flourish.

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” —Luke, 13:1-9

Reflection byDanielle's Father, Edward

The garden in the Gospel reading is very much like the relationship between a father and daughter. A garden, like a relationship, requires a lot of work over a long period of time. Both can be very challenging at times, especially when all

that work seems to go unrewarded. as with the figless tree. But, I realize, the garden is as precious to the gardener as my re la t ionship with Danielle is to me: Whatever work I invested in that relat ionship has

been paid back to me many, many times over.

In fact, the more I thought about this, the more I came to realize that Danielle has made the last 18 years precious to me in ways that only a daughter can. We have each invested our time and love with each other over those years, and the relationship we share today is the result of that. Although we don't always agree, and in fact we are sometimes polar opposites, we will always love each other.

To me, our relationship is sacred, a bond formed between a father and daughter over many years, that will evolve but which can never be broken. It is all the things that a father and daughter ever were to each other and all they will be to each other.

My advice to any other father is to see yourself as that determined gardener and your relationship with your daughter as your private garden. Nurture it. Work at it. Make it your priority, and don't let anything interfere in its growth. One day, much sooner than you expect, your 'little girl' will be a young woman, ready to venture out into the world, and you will realize just how precious your relationship with her really is.

“The retreat was very powerful, and helped me let my mom know how much she means to me.”

—A daughter

“The retreat was a great way to reconnect with my mom.”

—A daughter

“The parts of the retreat that were most helpful were the reminders of how God loves us unconditionally.” —A mom

“The retreat was an opportunity to spend time with my daughter alone....to reflect on our relationship and on who we are.” —A mom

“The part of the retreat that was most helpful was knowing how much my mom cares for me through the letter.” —A daughter

“It was as if I pressed ‘pause’ and everything else froze.”

—A mom

“I like how intimate and loving it is.” —A daughter

These liturgies are offered to all Carondelet students and their parents

every year.

mothers and daughters also spent private time, during which they reflected and wrote "love letters" to each other. When the group reconvened, they shared their letters. Many of the mothers and daughters felt this was the most powerful and memorable part of the retreat.

The women who participated in the "Light of Connection" Mother-Daughter Retreat found it a fulfilling experience, very valuable to their relationships. Here are some comments from women who attended the retreat.

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Alumnae and Legacy Daughters Extend the Carondelet Spirit to the Community

A group of alums and their Legacy daughters met to assemble 12 baby blankets for students at Crossroads High School in Concord. The alumnae and their daughters enjoyed lively conversation, finishing the project in a flash. Then they shared a few pizzas and talked some more!

About 60 young pregnant and/or parenting women attend the continuation school, which steadily adds more students. School administrator and principal Pam Neudecker, whose daughter graduated from Carondelet in 1998, said, "More often than not, these teen moms will be the first in their families to graduate from high school." Pam adds that the women receive little family support for attending school, so they are moved with deep appreciation for community support. The gesture of our alumnae who made and presented the blankets, for example, was welcomed with heartfelt thanks.

All Carondelet alumnae are invited to participate in such events. To learn about the Alumnae Board and their upcoming service activities, email Mary Frevele at mfrevele@carondeleths.org.

Eight ReunionsComing Up In

July and August!Watch for your invitation in the mail!

1970 August 21 CHS & Boundary Oak

1975 July 17 Pyramid Alehouse

1980 Aug 21 Boundary Oak

1985 July 31 Pyramid Alehouse

1990 July 17 Scott’s Garden

1995 July 10 Pyramid Alehouse

2000 July 10 Scott’s Garden

2005 July 31 1515 Restaurant

It's easy to register on our website with your credit card. Please visit:www.carondelet.net and click the

"Alumnae" tab. See you soon!

Carondelet Women ServeTea to Seniors at Stonebrook

Alumnae Association members and their Legacy daughters recently visited Stonebrook Convalescent Center in Concord, helping the residents welcome springtime with a delightful party. The women and their daughters treated the residents to tea and treats, read to the seniors, and gave them small gifts—doorknob hangers which the Alumnae Association made at a recent meeting. The alumnae and students who participated enjoyed the experience and brightened the day for the seniors at Stonebrook.

Making Baby Blankets for Teen Moms

Alumnae Put On Big Aloha to Welcome NewAlums!Following the Senior Assembly,

the Alumnae Association welcomed the graduating class of 2010 into the Carondelet High School alumnae, treating them to a luau-themed breakfast. The students received official alumnae merchandise and enjoyed breakfast, while they visited with members of the Alumnae Board. With the addition of our graduating seniors, the total number of Carondelet alumnae is 7720!

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From 'Tears of a Clown' to Miss Teenage CaliforniaMary-Kate Fitzpatrick '09 Overcomes Her Insecurity and Honors the Beauty in Every Person

When Mary-Kate Fitzpatrick ’09 visited campus in late May, her

arrival was far different from her first day as a freshman in August 2005. Miss Teenage California came to visit former teachers, and she graciously consented to Sister Kathy’s request for an interview.

Mary-Kate has just completed her first year at Mount St. Mary’s College where she is the newly elected Vice President of the Associated Student Body. With a major in Film and Social Justice, as well as a minor in Business, Mary-Kate shares her “plan to dive into the media entertainment field. I have directed and edited numerous films and am currently writing the screenplay to my first full-length feature. When I make films, it’s all creative, all in my head. I don’t just rely on looks. I think that’s a waste of life.”

In April Mary-Kate was named Miss Teenage California over 148 other

Mary-Kate Fitzpatrick recently visited some favorite teachers, including Mrs. Cabral (left) and Mr. Payne (right), who keeps Zena's likeness in his classroom as a "great role model." At center, Mary-Kate poses for her official pageant photo.

contestants in a competition that is not based on physical beauty but on academics and community service. Contestants must be dynamic, spirited and goal-oriented, and Mary-Kate excelled in all criteria. In August she will compete for Miss Teen of the Nation in Washington, D.C. “That contest has a bathing suit competition but I’m comfortable with that. I’m not worried about the body anymore,” says Mary-Kate. “Even if I lose, it doesn’t matter. I’m doing it because it’s literally an incredible experience. How many people get to say I competed for Miss Teen of the Nation and I have this $10,000 scholarship besides.”

Statements such as “I don’t just rely on looks,” and “I’m not worried about the body anymore,” came very naturally to Mary-Kate during the interview but it was not always so. She first felt the sting of merciless peer teasing when she was

in middle school and it grew worse in high school. Then, as a sophomore she began to lose weight, gaining a renewed confidence as well as deep compassion. The new Mary-Kate startled her school mates with her appearance, her confidence and her compassion. “If you’re not like everyone else, you are a target…How did I counteract? I absolutely did not stand for it! When someone said something about another, I reacted ‘Do not say that’ and I’d go to the victim and say ‘Don’t even listen’ because people will say things. Unless they're living it, they don’t understand.”

Mary-Ka te ’s compe t i t i on in Washington will rely more on

physical beauty but she might just hold the trump card. “To really be beautiful, you have to be beautiful on the inside—that inner light that makes you love everyone, makes you want to help people and inspire them. If you have that, that’s when your outer beauty comes out.”

Whatever the outcome in Washington, it does seem certain that Mount St. Mary’s College and the media entertainment field will continue to feel the impact of Mary-Kate’s incredible energy, her many talents, and her uncompromising standards. The young woman who recently visited campus is a study in self-determination, self-discipline and self-confidence.

Over forty alumnae and other members of our community participated in the Career Fair, which is sponsored by the College and Career Center.

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It is NOT in my Head!By Nicole Hemmenway '99

After three years, I was finally a senior—a typical Carondelet High

School senior. I looked forward to the upcoming year and was excited that I would be attending special dances, senior prom and Grad Night. Not only did I have graduation ahead of me, I also had my next adventure: college. With many aspirations for my future , I was ready to begin living my life as an independent adult.

However, three weeks into the school year, a fluke incident caused me to pull two tendons in my right hand, and changed the course of my entire life. As my life came to a screeching halt, I began visiting the most renowned medical inst i tut ions and seeing specialist after specialist, t ry ing procedure af te r procedure and medication after medication. Nothing brought me relief.

I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain S y n d r o m e ( C R P S ) , a neurological and chronic pain disorder affecting the autonomic nervous system. By altering the sympathetic nerve’s ability to function properly, this condition causes severe burning pain, decreased circulation, pathological changes in the bone and skin, extreme sensitivity to touch, tendon and tissue inflammation, and loss of limb mobility. Diagnosed with the debilitating disease in 1998 , I began my long and painful nine-year journey through the medical system.

At a time when I should have been asserting my independence, I had to rely on others. My parents, brother and closest friends assisted me in my most basic needs: getting dressed, feeding myself and washing my hair. By 2002, four years into my diagnosis, mainstream medicine wrote me off as being untreatable and incurable. At that time, I had no use of

my right hand and minimal use of my arm. And I depended on massive amounts of opioids to survive each day. As the disease began to spread throughout my body, there were periods where I found myself bedridden or wheelchair bound.

With my life in shambles and the dreams I had for my future gone, I felt as if I was living a nightmare.

Even though the pain was crippling, and the odds of overcoming it slim, I refused to believe that I would be sick forever. I just refused to accept that the medical profession had explored all

avenues, or that hope in a greater, pain-free future was lost. Knowing I deserved to be pain-free led me on my quest to find answers and to heal. I continued to hold onto hope as I began to look outside the box. I finally understood that I would need

to take my own route through the medical system.

My dreams of recovery came true when I discovered a South Texas doctor who had invented a non- invas ive e lec t r ica l stimulation device called the sympathetic therapy system (STS) treatment. After a horrific 10-month withdrawal from morphine, the therapy began to work. I had finally found what I had been searching for: a cure. I was healing.

Although my healing journey may have taken me out

of the classroom and down the corridors of hospitals and doctors' offices, and on a life path I never planned for myself, it did teach me invaluable lessons. Learning how to heal myself has been the most challenging and rewarding experience. I am a stronger, better person because of my suffering, as I understand everything is secondary to love and health. Every day, each of us has a choice to thrive or

succumb. Since none of us knows what tomorrow may bring, I have learned to always stay positive. I must continue to live, dream, and imagine that anything is possible. Dreams do come true.

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and the reason my injury occurred here at Carondelet is because this is where I acquired the values and lessons which allowed me to stay strong throughout my plight. Without question, the leadership qualities instilled in me by faculty and students alike during my time at Carondelet enabled me to be persistent, professional and proactive through all stages of my journey. To the Carondelet community, I thank you for making a difference in my life.

“The reason my injury occurred here

at Carondelet is because this is where I acquiredthe values and lessons

which allowed me to stay strong.”

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Graduation was a pivotal moment in a young person’s life, and I could not wait for Dad to arrive at the hospital. I finally felt at peace. For the first time since I became an inpatient, I was joyful, giddy and content. Now I just wanted to get the day started.

Dad entered my room followed by Dr. Brown. To this day, I can recall our conversation about whether I should disconnect the pump to avoid any programmer malfunctions or tube blockage issues. I thought it would be safer not to have long tubes hanging from

my neck, but Dad was hesitant. Once Dr. Brown assured us both that it would not affect my health, he administered twice my usual dose and disconnected the pump. Then we were free to leave.

The drive home was comfortably quiet. Since nothing could accurately describe the emotions we both felt, there was no reason for either of us to ruin a profound moment with words. I exuberantly smiled while staring out the window at the other cars. This was what it felt like to live.

Butterflies formed in my stomach when I saw the trees’ branches encasing the

road of our street. As we pulled into the driveway, Mom rushed to meet me. She gave me a hug as we hurried to my room to put on the white cap and gown. Yet something felt wrong. It was as if I was a stranger in my own home. This was not where I was supposed to be right now.

∞Thinking how this pivotal life moment

almost did not happen made my anxiety soar. I had been waiting four years for this day, and now that we were pulling into my school’s parking lot, I did not know how to handle the situation. I wanted to absorb every detail, but I was too overwhelmed. My life had significantly changed since the last time I stepped foot on campus. I was different. My day-to-day concerns no longer included whether so-and-so said hi to me in the hall. I had grown up.

My classmates and I met in the cafeteria before the ceremony. As I stood next to the head dean, she announced my arrival to the rest of my class. With the room erupting in applause, I became embarrassed and self-conscious. How did everyone know my story? For my own safety, she then instructed my class not to touch or hug me. The swarm of people who were seconds ago rushing to say hello instantly took three steps back as if I had the plague. Again, I felt like an outsider.

I began to sweat as the throbbing in my hand worsened. Being the center of

attention made me uncomfortable. I tried to control the radiating pain, but I felt as if the room was caving in on me. Soon I started seeing black-and-white dots. I knew I needed fresh air, so Meredith took me outside.

It was just too much too soon. After all, less than two hours ago a nurse had been taking my vital signs and helping me get dressed. Breathing deeply like Sharon had taught me seemed to help. My head stopped spinning and my knees no longer felt as though they would buckle. We returned to the room in time to form the procession lines.

I was in shock when I walked into the school auditorium and heard the music. Looking around the large crowd, I spotted my parents, my grandparents and Dan crying. It was great to see Dan because I missed him so much. I felt guilty that I was the cause of his grief. I realized this moment meant just as much to them as me.

The actual ceremony was a blur. I know I heard some amazing speeches and sang a few songs before it was time to receive our diplomas. Even though the assistant principal asked the entire auditorium not to applaud until all diplomas were distributed, my class cheered for me as I walked on stage. I will never forget that moment. Not only did it evoke such strong emotions in me, it served as a testament to my amazing classmates. In my mind, I had not done anything extraordinary. This day was special for all of us—we each had accomplished an important milestone. Therefore, showing me such admiration and love was truly an honor.

As the ceremony ended, the Class of 1999 proceeded to the Inner Court for our graduation picture. The day had just begun for the rest of my class with parties to attend, lunches to eat, relatives to visit and then Grad Night. Grad Night was a tradition. It was the most anticipated event of our senior year. That evening my entire class would return to school and celebrate the evening locked in the safe auditorium…while I would be back in my hospital bed missing more fun.

Nicole's JourneyThe following is an excerpt from Nicole's memoir,

No, It Is NOT In My Head: The Journey of a Chronic Pain Survivor from Wheelchair to Marathon:

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Reaching Out with the Written Word

LISA LAPIN ‘82From Journalism to Communications Director

During 15 years as an award-winning reporter and editor at major daily newspapers—including the Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News and The Sacramento Bee—Lisa Lapin ’82 covered higher education, state and federal politics and environmental issues. She also served as education editor and worked in newsroom management as City Editor.

Then, for nearly a decade, Lisa headed communications at the University of California, Davis. She first served as Director of its News Service and then was Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Communications, leading external and internal c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a t t h e 30,000-student public research university. At UC Davis, Lisa’s responsibilities included media relations, crisis and issues management, executive communications, primary

campus website and publications, marketing, faculty-staff communications, visual identity and design, and development, alumni and parent communications.

Today, Lisa still writes on a daily basis, though as Stanford University's senior communications official, she also oversees University Communications and serves as Stanford’s chief spokesperson. The University Communications team has responsibility for Stanford web content and top-level websites; media relations and the News Service; presidential and provost communications; major publications, including Stanford Report, the annual report and Stanford Facts; and campus video production.

‘Jailbird Alum’ Has Been Writing for 30 YearsBy ERIN HALLISSEY ’76

As a student at Carondelet, I knew I wanted to be a writer. For college, I chose San Jose State because of its respected journalism program, which includes the opportunity to write for the college newspaper, the Spartan Daily.

Between my junior and senior years in college I did a summer internship at the Contra Costa Times and, during my senior year,

it became a weekend job and then, after graduation, a full-time job. I ended up working at the Times for 10 years, covering a wide variety of stories on everything from county planning to city council meetings. For about six years, I specialized in covering legal affairs as a criminal courts trial reporter.

Covering the courts meant writing about criminal cases when they came to court, from arraignment through sentencing and, at times, I interviewed criminal suspects. In one case, I was subpoenaed for my notes about several interviews I did with accused murderer John Sapp, who ultimately was sentenced to death row. Citing the California Shield Law, which protects journalists’ unpublished information, I refused to answer questions at Sapp’s trial. The judge sentenced me to jail, but stayed the sentence so my lawyers could appeal. Subsequently,

the California Supreme Court stayed my sentence and, in the end, the Court of Appeal ruled in my favor in Hallissy vs. Superior Court. Although I did not have to go to jail, Sister Eleanor always greets me as Carondelet’s “Jailbird Alum”!

I left the Times in 1990 and became a reporter and editor at the San Francisco Chronicle. Working primarily in the East Bay, I covered

environmental stories, crime, government and other stories, including features and human interest stories. For two years, I was the bureau chief of the Chronicle’s Contra Costa Bureau, which allowed me to work with a diverse group of reporters and photographers covering the area in which I grew up and still live.

In 2005, I took a buyout from the Chronicle and soon joined Saint Mary’s College of California, where I am the Editorial Director in the Office of College Communications. In this position, I am the editor of the college’s quarterly alumni magazine. I get to write and edit stories for the magazine as well as for the college’s website, and I work on brochures, catalogues and other material for various college departments and schools. I also supervise several student photographers and writers. The pace is far different than in a daily newspaper, but there is always something interesting to do and I find it very gratifying to tell stories about the good work Saint Mary’s and its students are doing.

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Legacy Mom Is Quiltmaking AuthorBy LAURA SMITH NOWNES '71

Who could have guessed that my love of sewing—and my experience and education in sewing at Carondelet—would extend to a career as a quiltmaker? It did!

From an early age, I made doll clothes and, eventually, sewed

my own clothes. In a summer school sewing class after fifth grade, I found my passion for sewing. Then, at Carondelet, I was delighted to find that Sister Anne taught my favorite class: tailoring! I still have fond memories of Sister Anne guiding me as I made my first Pendleton coat.

My parents encouraged me to attend Saint Mary’s College, where I met the love of my life, my future husband, Bill. I received a degree in psychology, then worked in my father's construction-related business. Feeling the need to feed my creativity, I took an evening quilting class and met Diana McClun. Little did I know that this meeting would change the direction of my life!

Twenty years ago, Diana and I wanted to write and self-publish a small book to use as a text for her beginning quilters’ classes. Very few comprehensive books were available on the subject so word got out and a top quilting book publisher approached us. Michael Kile of Quilt Digest Press eagerly took on the project and guided us to producing Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! I am most proud of this, my first book. It’s still one of the best-selling quilt books of all time, with over one million copies sold. Quilters still refer to Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! as the quilt-making “bible.”

The success of this book led to four more major publications and Diana and I continue to be very active in the quilting world. We have designed and self-published more than 50 original patterns and we teach and lecture locally and across the country. We also participated in the 13-week PBS television series, The Great American Quilt in 1993 and have appeared on numerous other television quilting and sewing shows.

Bill and I have two daughters—Sara ’04 and Molly ’07—who attended CHS so, of course, I have been involved in making the quilts for Visions of Christmas since 2001!

Cooking, Writing and Living the Italian LifeBy JUDY WITTS FRANCINI ‘72

I didn’t write in school. I was more of a studio-arts student who loved working with my hands, and that eventually evolved into teaching cooking, which combined my passion for travel with creating.

I took a cooking class in Venice, Italy with the late Barbara Tropp, who had written an incredible Chinese cookbook. When I asked her how to start writing, she replied, "If you can talk, you can write." I know what she means! I am a good storyteller and, finally, I got around to putting th ings down on paper.

The invention of the computer made writing easier and more fun, since I was not good at typing, either! With all the s t ress of typing mistakes out of the way, I began to write by blogging in 2003. Then I started really writing, putting some stories down on virtual paper. Since then, I have written for the English language American Magazine in Rome and The Florentine in Florence, and I am on staff at FoodConnect.com. I also still maintain my weekly blog, “Over the Tuscan Stove” at divinacucina.blogspot.

com, featuring articles about Tuscany.

My cookbook, Secrets of My Tuscan Kitchen is the beginning of a series of books on regional Italian cooking. With nearly 100 recipes, the book shares some discoveries from my travels through Italy. The Tuscans know how to prepare simple food from quality local ingredients, as they make the most of regional and seasonal produce. For this reason, my classes begin in

the local markets, where purveyors provide the best from the Tuscan countryside.

Married to a native Florentine, Andrea Francini, I've made my home in Florence since 1984 and started Divina Cucina in 1988 with a simple aim: to share my knowledge of Italian cuisine and culinary history with fellow food lovers in and around Florence.

For more information, visitwww.divinacucinacookbook.blogspot.com

Laura has published eight books, as well as six major publications with Diana McClun.

Above, Judy explores porcini in the central market in Florence with British celebrity chef Gary Rhodes for his BBC program, Rhodes Across Italy. Below, Judy's cookbook.

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LIP Board Student Will Pursue Career in WritingCARINA CHIODO, Class of 2010

Carina Chiodo loved to read so much that, at just seven years old, she spent every free minute poring through any book she could get her hands on—and breezed through seventh-grade-level books in about two days. By second grade, she got a beautiful journal for Christmas and that turned her on to writing. She still remembers the whimsical painting on the journal’s cover and the gold lines on the writing paper inside. Carina loved writing in her journal about anything and everything, so she documented every day of her life and expressed herself by tangibly sorting her thoughts, such that she could actually see them. “This did and still does fascinate me,” says Carina.

As a Carondelet sophomore, Carina joined the “Life in Perspective” (LIP) Board at the Contra Costa Times. This gave her a “great opportunity to learn about the journalism aspect of writing,” she says. Thanks to the LIP program, the Times has published a few of her stories and columns, including some 150-word “blurbs” in the regular “Word of Mouth” section, a feature about anything the LIP writers want to cover.

“Writing is a serious dream of mine and I am going to pursue it," says Carina, who plans to major or minor in writing. “I hope that someday in the future,” she adds, “ I can utilize my passion for writing in many different ways, whether it be writing columns for a newspaper, creating an entire novel, or maybe becoming an English teacher someday.”

Writing for the Bay Area News GroupBy BIANCA ROMANA, Class of 2010

This was my first year writing for the Life in Perspective Board. Last summer, I stumbled onto the ad in the Contra Costa Times about LIP applications, and decided to take the chance. I like to think it was fate! So far I've written two columns and I'm very proud of one cover story I wrote for the "TimeOut" section. This year I was also Editor-in-Chief of Yearbook at Carondelet, after beginning on the staff during my junior year. Most people don't realize that Yearbook involves a lot of writing, but most of the work is actually journalism.

For now, I'm not entirely sure how I'd like to include writing in my future, but I do know I'd be lost without it! At the very least, I hope to be writing for my college's newspaper, or even their yearbook. Right now the future is full of possibilities!

The Bay Area News Group's Life in Perspective (LIP) Board of 37 high school students write for the “Time Out” section of the Contra Costa Times and other affiliated newspapers. The LIP Board meets monthly, when the students learn about newspaper writing. The newspapers, in turn, depend on the students “to come up with story ideas that resonate with teens," says Ardua Harris, Assistant Features Editor. "We want to get their voices into the paper through stories we might miss.”

Sister Patricia Anne (Continued from page 4)

Diane Barberini. The Lord had called them home after a job well done. They were a great inspiration to you and to me. Another such person was Sister Josephine Martin. We had been missioned together and I was well aware of how Sister Josie loved her students. This became clearer to me the night of her funeral when a former student spoke about her, “Sister Josie made me believe in myself and taught me in such a positive way.” We need positive teachers who bring out the best in our students.

Last week I told you about the statue in the inner court which is in memory of a student who so wanted to be in the second class here at CHS. Last year I was happy to see the statue of St. Joseph from St. Catherine’s in Martinez. Our sisters taught there for 40 years and the parish felt it should be returned to Carondelet.

Each day I am reminded of your challenge as you leave Carondelet. You are Women of Heart. You are Women of Courage. I appreciate each time I hear you speak of your vision to help others, your commitment to help the poor, how well

you responded to the project, Get On the Bus. I heard how well you did during Easter building houses for the poor in Mexico. I see how well you prepare liturgies, how well you challenge others to be caring persons, how you visit and serve meals at St. Anthony’s Dining Room, how you have formed a Justice Committee; I am impressed and inspired.

I am inspired by the senior students who will graduate this week. I feel sure the world will be a better place as you graduates take your places in the world. I am grateful for these years as I have seen you graduates grow and mature.

I will pray for our President, Sister Kathleen Lang, as she continues to guide Carondelet as one of our greatest schools in our province. I will continue to pray for our first lay principal, Dr. Teri Hurlbut. It has been my privilege to serve with her for the past four years. Thank you also, Mrs. Libby, for your role as Assistant Principal. My continued prayers are with you.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my years here at CHS. You will all continue to be in my prayers. It was good to be here…..

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My high school became my world, and I am grateful this was

Carondelet High School. This all-girl, Catholic institution repeated one motto whenever possible: “Become all of which woman is capable.” I was enlightened and motivated by these words, and while becoming a free-thinking woman of leadership and service, I formulated grand plans for my future.

I stepped into Carondelet’s halls as a freshman, and I had never experienced anything like it. Teachers informed us that women had no limitations unless they created them. Students were held to a high standard academically. Cheating was a mortal sin, because we were taught to be independent, self-motivated, and honest. Mandatory religion classes gave more than a summary of the Bible, because students were taught to act as Jesus would, not just read his biography in the Gospels. Throughout my years at Carondelet, I took the easy opportunities to do just this, by tutoring low-income elementary school kids, or spending time with patients suffering from severe dementia. By sophomore year, my world had taught me the basics of faith, integrity, and intelligence.

Classes without boys for the first two years built my confidence and made me as assertive as any student at the all-boys school across the street. When I walked into my first co-ed class as a junior, I made up my mind to participate often, speak my mind, and ask plenty of questions without fear of sounding inadequate. Continuing this pattern all year, I received the educational benefits of being active and uninhibited. My confidence grew

further when, as a senior, I earned the position of captain on the varsity volleyball team. We trained like the boys, played like the boys, and competed with more intensity than a football team. Petty drama, complaints, or excuses were not allowed, and we won and lost matches as athletes, competitors, and friends. My teammates and I expected the most out of each other, and we lived “all of which woman is capable” at every practice, game, and tournament.

Because my world supported female-empowerment, from the classroom to the sports teams, I feel a responsibility to prove myself as a woman. Carondelet gave me the inspiration and tools in order to succeed, but now it is up to me to take risks in this so-called man’s

world. Instead of complaining about sexism in the workplace or existing social limitations for women, I will recognize the challenges and work even harder to become “all of which woman is capable.” I find no distinction between what I can achieve, and what the boy sitting next to me in AP Government can achieve.

When I daydream, I dream big. I see a blurred vision of myself, walking down the halls of a hospital with

clipboard in hand, standing behind a podium in front of a hundred students, typing the last chapter of a novel, or sketching a rough draft of the next architectural marvel. I owe my varied and extraordinary aspirations to Carondelet High School, a world of powerful, confident, beautiful, and capable women.

My WorldBy Ashley Sheaff, Class of 2010

Carondelet High School CommemorateS 45th Anniversary

Carondelet High School invites our community of friends—students, alumnae, parents, supporters and faculty and staff from the past and present—

to join us in celebrating the spirit and history of Carondelet High School.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Liturgy 10AMwith Father Michael Norkett

Followed by Open HouseRefreshments and Campus Tours to 2:00PM

Check out the 45 "CHS" (Carondelet Hot Spots), the 45 memorable and important sites of the school's past, present and future,

and join us to visit, remember, and celebratethe living institution that is Carondelet High School.

For more information, contact Mary Frevele, Director of Alumnae Relations, at mfrevele@carondeleths.org

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Carondelet High School1133 Winton DriveConcord, California 94518-3598

NON-Profit ORG. Presort STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

CARONDELET HIGH SCHOOL

Stepping out into the World,the Class of 2010 Celebrates

college!

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

University of CaliforniaBerkeley

DavisIrvine

Los AngelesMerced

RiversideSan Diego

Santa BarbaraSanta Cruz

California State UniversitiesCal Poly, Pomona

Cal Poly, San Luis ObispoChico

East BayFresno

FullertonMaritime Academy

SacramentoSan Diego

San Francisco San JoseSonoma

Academy of Art UniversityChapman University

Claremont McKenna CollegeDominican University of California

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Holy Names UniversityLoyola Marymount University

Four-Year Private Out-of-State Art Institute of Seattle

Boston CollegeBoston University

College of Mount Saint VincentDartmouth College

Duke University Gonzaga University

Harvard CollegeKentucky Wesleyan CollegeLoyola University Maryland

Mount Saint Vincent, New YorkPrinceton University

Regis University Rocky Mountain College Sarah Lawrence College University of Portland Villanova University

Waynesburg University

Four-Year Public Out-of-State Arizona State University

Auburn UniversityBoise State University

Colorado State University, PuebloMontana State University at Bozeman

University of Arizona University of Colorado at Colorado

SpringsUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa

University of Nevada at Las VegasUniversity of New Mexico

University of OklahomaUniversity of Oregon

University of Washington

Two-Year CollegesCuesta Community College

Diablo Valley CollegeGrossmont CollegeLas Positas College

Los Medanos CollegeMesa Community College

Santa Monica CollegeTruckee Meadows Community College

Four-Year PrivateOut-of-Country

John Cabot University, Rome, Italy

Saint Mary’s College of CaliforniaSanta Clara University Stanford University

University of the PacificUniversity of San Diego

University of San FranciscoUniversity of Southern California

California Four-Year Private

PARENTS: Please send address corrections to the Alumnae Office

Of the 199 graduates in the 2010 class, 82% will attend four-year colleges

and 17% will attend two-year colleges. (One graduate will defer college for one year to work in Paris.)