Prom Facebook Group

Students at Presentation High School have one less thing to worry about during Prom this year: wearing the same dress as someone else. A new Facebook group called “Prom Dresses 2011″ is saving girls the stress and anxiety of worrying about wearing the same dress as someone else at Prom this year.

This group was created by Presentation’s own senior Emily Wallace. The group is very simple and helpful for all the juniors and seniors going to Presentation’s Prom on May 14.

When a girl finds the prom dress she plans to wear, she takes a picture of it and posts it onto the group wall for all the other group members to see. All members of the group can then make comments and give their opinions on the dress.

Best of all – other students can make sure they do not buy the same dress. Prom is filled with more than enough stress, and this simple and easy process takes some of the anxiety away.

Because it’s important for students to remember the rules, this helpful Facebook group also provides the rules and regulations for dresses that students must follow to prevent being removed from the dance or receiving a detention. With this simple and easy process girls can take some of the stress of Prom away and make sure that they truly shine in their dress on that special day.

Many students are already a member of this group, including juniors Isabella Nguyen and Diborah Wubshet, who found the site helpful.

“I looked back at it each time I found a new dress to make sure I didn’t buy another person’s dress,” Wubshet said. “I really appreciated my friend’s comments, which helped me decide which dress to buy for prom without actually having to wait to ask them what they think.”

When asked about the difficulty of uploading a picture in the group she said, “It was really easy to post in the group all I had to do was upload a picture or you could just post a link on the group wall.”

So if you’re not a member yet, just ask one of your friends to add you and let the anxiety slip away.

Game of the Month: Varsity Basketball vs Westmont

Senior Chelsea Punian began the game against the Westmont Warriors with the tip off, knocking the ball away from the opposing player, but the Warriors gained possesion of the ball scoring the first point of the game.

The Panthers quickly took control of the ball and passed it down the court and the game began. Getting to the game, the score was Panthers 10- Warriors 5. The Panthers rapidly passed the ball back and forth between  seniors Nici Gilday, Stephanie Rechenmacher, sophomore Courtney Danna and freshman Joeseta Fatuesi until on a two point shot by the Panthers, Danna was fouled by a Warrior while attempting a lay-up. Danna took two foul shots from the top of the key and made both altering the score to 12-9 Panthers.

The Warriors took possession of the ball, only to drop it between passes and Fatuesi snatched it away passing to Gilday and the rest of the team. Passing and scoring commenced for the rest of the first quarter with 30.7 seconds left on the clock, the Panthers possessed the ball after a change of possesion via a passing offensive foul and Gilday made a huge three-pointer. But the Warriors took the ball with seconds to go and their number 30 made a three-pointer that ended the quarter with a tied score of 14-14.

The second quarter commenced similarly to the first but with the Panthers always having the lead. The Warriors always seemed to have the ball but the Panthers time after time stole possession and made the baskets. With 4:27 left in the second quarter, the Westmont coach called time out. The Warriors brought the ball back into play with a hard pass to another player who missed the ball, leaving junior Amanda Dung to swoop in dribbling the ball down and passing it off to Gilday and Fatuesi with Gilday attempting a shot but on the rebound a Warrior claimed the ball. She travels and Dung throws the ball in from the side lines continuing the game until the Warriors had the ball, but out of nowhere senior Molly Pearson glides in, snatching the ball and completing a lay-up.

The whistle calls for half time with the score Panthers 32, Warriors 25. Both teams leave to go to the locker room and return after the one minute warning bell sounds.

New players are substituted in for the 3rd quarter with speedy passes and points scored by both teams. At 2:35 seconds left in the quarter, some close calls occurred where the Warriors had possession, lost it to the Panthers. The Panthers lost the ball but Punian quickly recovered to score the point.  The accuracy of three point shots from the Panthers was amazing as was the speed with which the players passed the ball back and forth between each other. The fourth  quarter continued similarly to the first three with the Panthers continuing to hold control over the game to the dismay of the Warriors. Their coach called time out with minutes left in the game while the Panthers ran smiling to their end of the court.

With seconds left in the game, the opponent had possession of the ball but missed the pass and Rechenmacher and Dung navigate towards the hoop and Rechenmacher completes the lay-up just as the whistle sounds ending the game 67-41.

The Panthers, following winning CCS Semi-Finals, went up against the Monarchs (Mitty) on March fourth at Santa Clara University. The game was a nail-bitter because the team’s scores were neck-in-neck until the end where the Panthers won 44-41 becoming WCAl and CCS Division II champions for 2011. Great job Panthers!

Pulitzer Winner David Kennedy Visits Pres

Presentation’s AP U.S. History students were treated yesterday to a lecture from Pulitzer-prize winning author and Stanford professor David Kennedy.

The highly anticipated visit was arranged by history teacher Charles Schmuck, who has attended multiple continuing education classes with Dr. Kennedy.

“His classes at Stanford are informative and inspirational as I always learn something new,” Schmuck said. “He’s one of the best lecturers I’ve ever seen. I’m honored that he agreed to come to Pres and give our students a glimpse of what a great college professor is all about.”

Speaking in the Valenzuela Theater, Dr. Kennedy emphasized the importance that historians place on asking questions, and posed one of his own as the theme for his talk: What if the United States had won World War II in a different way?

Kennedy, who authored the students’ APUSH textbook—as well as 12 other books and numerous articles–spoke about the range of forces that allowed for America’s victory, from the timing of the United States’ entry into the war to its strategic air strategy and its booming economy.

Kennedy, whose style was informal and conversational as he paced the stage, kept both students and teachers enthralled with his argument that World War II was one of the United States’ most critical transformative events.

“In class we learn about World War II from a world perspective, so it was great to hear about it from the U.S. perspective,” said sophomore Christine Ho, one of approximately 75 students who attended the lecture.

Academic Dean Rosemarie Healy, who said she was impressed by the turnout of both students and teachers, said, “I’d like to read his book [Pulitzer Prize winner Freedom from Fear ]. He was fascinating.”  Then, noting that the book is over 800 pages, she added, “Well, maybe the Cliffs Notes.”

Mural Mural on the Wall

Dragging ourselves into school after a long Christmas break was not fun. If anyone had the strength or willpower to lift their heads up, they saw the beautiful new stained glass window over the front entrance of the school. But why is it there? Who did it? What does it mean? Well, The Voice has all the answers to your questions.

Art teacher Cynthia Ford was the one in charge of this beautiful mural. In her Design II class last spring, she planned a unit called Art in Community. The class was in charge of creating a design for the windows, and the Design I class this past semester was in charge of painting the designs.

In an email interview, Ms. Ford said, “The concept behind the panels was to update the front foyer, to create a stained glass look, to beautify the school and to bring art to our community.”

Ms. Ford and her Design II class gave the mural the title,“Celebrating our 50 years of Faith and Education.” They made each panel represent a different and important part of the Presentation Community, as follows:

Center-School motto and a lantern to remind us of Nano Nagle and her mission of education and spreading hope.

Upper Right-Represents Nano Nagle’s hometown, Cork, Ireland, by depicting the four founding Sisters of the Presentation and, in the middle, a sacred heart.

Upper Left-Symbolizes the Holy Spirit, gentleness and purity.

Bottom Left-Depicts Pres life and our diversity. The puzzle-piece world shows that we are very diverse, yet one community.

Bottom Right-The Tree of Life; the roots of the tree represent the Sisters of the Presentation, hope, education, justice and human dignity.

The students who contributed to this design are generally very proud of their work. Senior Natalie Audelo, who helped design the Tree of Life, said “I think the piece turned out well. I’m pleased with the bright colors and cohesiveness of the painting as a whole. I am so excited to be able to leave a lasting mark on the school.”  

Another artist, senior Kaity Stansberry, said, “I really did enjoy the project. Although at times it did become hard, and it did take a lot of effort, we all worked together and pulled out a beautiful mural.”

The project took almost an entire year and is finally finished.

Ms. Ford said, “I am so proud to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented, caring and intelligent group of young women.”

The mural was well received by the whole school. “I love the mural that uses such bright colors to show the spirit of our Panthers and how cheerful and bright we are,” said freshman Shreeya Majmudar, summing up the school’s general reaction. “The mural symbolizes the true meaning of ‘Not Words but Deeds.’ The symbols and the patterns truly show the Pres spirit.”

February Game of the Month: Presentation vs. Sacred Heart

Presentation’s varsity soccer team dominated against the Irish (Sacred Heart) on Jan. 29 finishing the game 4-1. The game showed the young team’s potential for the upcoming WCAL tournament and CCS.

Sacred Heart started off with the ball, but junior Maire Rooney quickly took to dominating the center field and feeding balls wide to junior Megan McArthur. After a few ping pong minutes in the beginning, plays started developing in the back.

Defense was on point with junior Rachel Ometer controlling the back in the sweeper position, clearing everything in sight. Freshman Sarah Lipscomb raised the game’s energy by flying past an Irish and feeding the ball to Rooney who took a strong shot on goal, where it bounced off the crossbar. Freshman Maile Washington came hard to follow, planting the ball in the top right corner. 1-0 Panthers.

With some shots on goal and brilliant saves by captain senior Jennifer Randazzo, the half ended with Ometer and defender junior Julia Schon attacking two opponents at the top of the box and both ended on the ground, later having to leave the field, but the Panthers’ defense line held up.

The second half started with a quick shot by Rooney while McArthur and Washington kept following. Juniors Stephanie Maniglia and MC Guidoux stepped up in the wing and midfield position to get some strong shots off as well.

Fouls started flying until Ometer had one in the box, creating the opportunity for the Irish to score through a penalty kick. Randazzo almost had the stop, but it redirected into the goal off her feet. With the score 1-1 with 26 minutes left, the Panthers started crashing the goal.

Three minutes later, after Sacred Heart’s goalie failed with a punt, Lipscomb took a quick look and fired from almost midfield, flying over the goalie’s head into goal, making the game 2-1. Three minutes after that, Guidoux attacked through the defense and Maniglia came from behind and placed the ball over the goalie’s head again.

Without laying off the defensive pressure, with 16 minutes left, McArthur took a quick throw-in to the top of the box where Guidoux was ready to fire, nailing the ball into the back of the net.

Confident in their position, Randazzo went out in exchange for senior Andrea Tomlinson at goal. Finishing the game with heads held high, the Panthers walked proudly off the field with smiles of jobs well done. Check them out at their next game this Saturday, Feb. 5 at Presentation at 11 a.m. against Notre Dame Belmont.

Feast of the Presentation

The Feast of the Presentation honors Nano Nagle, the founder of Presentation High School, and recognizes all she has done for the women of Presentation. Nano earned the name “The Lady with the Lantern” when she began to travel through the towns in Ireland carrying a lantern. The light of the lantern led the young women to the place where Nano would teach them to read and write. The Feast of the Presentation reminds us of all the great things Nano did and how her actions led to the privileges we have today.

The Feast of the Presentation is also known for the great performances by our very own Presentation teachers. This year’s performances were unforgettable and left everyone in the school with a smile on their faces. Even though some students believe the performances exaggerate the lives of Presentation students, they hold a lot of truth about our lifestyle.

One performance that spread excitement throughout the school was when the teachers mentioned the chance of Snuggies being a part of the uniform. Many students would agree that we would all love to have the Snuggie as an addition to the Pres uniform in the future. However, even though we may really want the Snuggie I would advise students not to expect the addition to the uniform any time soon.

Another exciting performance was the combination of a number of popular songs from this past year performed by our very own Presentation teachers. If students did not already know, it is very clear how talented the teachers of Presentation are. I would not be surprised to see a CD of the songs available for purchase this coming year.

One of the most awe inspiring skits of the feast was the final performance reenacting Mr. Buell’s and Mrs. Raposa’s wedding. Many students at Pres were bummed to miss the wedding of some of our most beloved teachers. This performance gave the students a chance to be a part of this special event.  The students of Presentation will cherish this memory for a long time.

The students of Presentation would like our teachers to know how much we appreciate them for their amazing ability to make us laugh and their promise to do their best to bring a smile to our faces.

Presentation Going Green

Presentation is leading the way towards becoming a “greener” high school in a variety of ways from creating online class websites to utilizing an efficient paper recycling system. When you take a look around school, what do you see? It may be the simple recycling bins or the homework assignments written on recycled paper, but we have all noticed the many ways Pres has gone green. Presentation is taking care of the environment one step at a time.

On those hot afternoons, you have probably noticed that the old building relies on fans to cool the rooms down. Although at times we may wish for cool air, think about how much energy we are saving by not installing an air conditioning system. Pres has also gone green with the installation of the double glass pane windows. The windows keep out the cold on winter mornings and try to maintain the cool on those blistering summer afternoons.

When you walk through the halls during fourth period or at lunch, you may notice that the lights are off in the halls. By turning off the lights, the school is staying cooler, and we are conserving energy by using less electricity.

Pres is all about the idea of reducing, reusing and recycling. If you have tried to print something in Room 14, you may have noticed that there is already writing on one side of your paper. Room 14 reuses all the paper that most schools would throw away. By reusing the paper, we are saving a lot of trees from being cut down in order to supply our school with the needed amount of paper.

Similarly, if you’ve taken Mr. Case’s class, you’ve used his class information website. By posting the homework and sources on their websites, teachers are saving paper and providing students with easy access to important information.
Also, Pres recently stopped sending quarterly report cards; instead, students can now see them on their Powerschool accounts. When the school does not send out report cards they save a lot of paper! Next time you need to print a homework assignment or class notes, try printing double-sided or make sure to use the recycled paper.

Another green part of Presentation are the many recycle bins scattered around the school. Using these is just as simple as throwing any other piece of trash away. They accept tin cans, water bottles and glass bottles and turn them in to be recycled.
One major addition to our school was the water machine installed in the center. Students now bring their own reusable water bottle and can refill it as many times as they need with free water and ice. Our school also no longer offers plastic water bottles for sale in the center in order to reduce the amount of plastic being used at the school.

Presentation has also gone green with the use of a natural gas generator, which has multiple uses. It not only heats up the pool for the swimmers on those cold winter days, but it also creates energy for the school to use. According to Mr. Atkinson, facilities manager, the generator produces 65 percent of the school’s electricity per year. Instead of using raw energy, the generator is making Pres a little bit greener and taking up less of the environment’s resources. Although it may cost a little extra in the beginning, in the long run the generator has given Pres more than we could have asked for.
Although we are extremely green, there are many other things our school can do to help the environment. For example, there are many versions of solar panels that store energy and use the sun to power large buildings. Solar panels are expensive, but in the long run they result in a lower electric bill and a better environment.

Another way we can be green is by creating a carpool list. Carpools mean that fewer students will be driving to school, which means fewer gas emissions going into the air. While freshman are given a list of all students’ addresses, it is sometimes hard to coordinate a full-functioning carpool arrangment given the craziness of most Pres girls’ schedules. Fortunately, with a little flexibility, it could be done.
Presentation is all about being green and putting our motto “Not words but deeds” into action. So the next time you have an extra tin can, be sure to drop it into a recycle bin and do your part through environmentally friendly actions.

No Ordinary Day Visit

 We see them in the hallways, we find it exciting when they show up in our classes and—let’s face it—occasionally, we like to embarrass them. Shadows have become a vital part of Pres life, but many of us do not know about the many behind-the-scenes details that come along with our school’s shadow program.

The shadow program at Presentation was started in 1994 and continues to be an important part of campus life. It was originally coordinated by former counselor Jennifer Martin and Ms. Mikacich, the current Vice President of Student Services. Now, it is run by Ms. Collins, Ms. Fallico and Ms. Bengtson. These three teachers work numerous hours a week to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Ms. Fallico says that she spends 10 hours or more per week arranging appointments, calling parents and sending out letters to the seventh and eighth graders who join us on campus.

To set up an appointment, the girls need only to go on our school website and fill out a request form, and Ms. Fallico takes care of the rest. Ms. Collins works with girls from PAC (Presentation Ambassadors Club), called shadow liaisons, to try and pair up shadows with hostesses with similar interests. She is also here early on A Days to greet the middle-school girls as they arrive on campus. And in addition to her teaching job, Ms. Bengtson helps Ms. Collins check our visitors in and sees them off at the end of the day.

 ”The shadow program has really blossomed,” said Ms. Fallico. “We had some trouble when the economy was bad, but now we’re bouncing back.”

This is especially true this year. In an average year, about 500 middle-school girls visit the school. This year, the admissions office has set up 600 appointments for this semester alone. Each A day, as many as 20 girls from middle schools across the Bay Area visit Pres so they can truly immerse themselves in the school and experience first-hand what it is like to come here.

When girls come to visit Pres, the three teachers do their best to make their visit as pleasant as possible. Shadow liaison Gianna Saso, junior, said, “Shadow hostesses are expected to have a positive attitude towards their shadow and to promote Presentation’s great qualities.” usually the biggest factor a girl takes into consideration when making her high school decision. “If they have a good experience here, it pretty much seals the deal,” said Ms. Collins.

Junior Ana Pecoraro, the second shadow liaison here at Pres, agrees. “For many of the shadows, this is their first time at Pres, so it is important to make their first impression a positive one.”

A good experience is so important because it is

To help make their experience at Pres even better, the school is now providing shadows with free lunch, a small bag with the Presentation crest on it and a mock passport. Once the girls receive their passports, they can bring them to every school-sponsored event they attend from now until they come to Pres. Each time they come to an event, whether it be a shadow day, the Open House or even a school theatre production, they will receive a stamp in their passport. If they decide to come to Presentation, they can then redeem those stamps for prizes. “For years, I’ve wanted to give them more than a brochure because I think kids respond more to other things,” said Ms. Collins. “The brochure seems to be mostly for parents.”

But the teachers and shadow liaisons do all their work with smiles on their faces. “I love working with middle schoolers because they’re all so bright-eyed,” said Ms . Fallico.

Ms. Bengtson also loves her work, saying “I enjoy trying to get to know them a little bit, and making them feel like they can and will fit in as part of our community here.”

Our schools’ shadow liaisons enjoy their work as well. “What I enjoy most is seeing the shadows getting along with their hostesses, asking a lot of questions and looking excited to be at their possible future school,” said Pecoraro.

All these people work hard every day to draw new students into Presentation and to make our shadow program the great success that it is today. So next time you see a visitor here, be sure to remember them and all they do to make sure everything goes well for our future Pres sisters.

Where Is Our Money Going?

All too often, one hears a Presentation girl asking questions such as, “Why do we have to pay so much for tuition?” “Why do I have to do magazine drive?” “Where does our money even go?!”

Senior Jennifer Wangworawut, after being an active member of student council for three years and in the midst of her last year at Pres, still has no idea what she’s paying for. And she is not alone in this. “I thought that most of our tuition went to scholarships, but I wasn’t really sure,” she said. “I didn’t have a clue where the mag drive money went to, even though my job is to promote it.”

So, The Voice sat down with Principal Mary Miller to figure out exactly where money at Presentation goes and why.

Tuition Money

Though the amount of tuition here at Presentation may make jaws drop, in comparison to other Catholic schools, Pres has the second to the lowest tuition at $14,045. In contrast, Bellarmine College Preparatory costs $15,250, the highest priced Catholic school in the South Bay. Harker tops everyone at $35,000.

Nearly three-fourths of the tuition money paid, unexcitingly enough, goes to salaries and health benefits for the teachers that Pres girls love so much. Eight percent goes to administration, which includes things like school supplies, teacher recruitment and summer programs. Another eight goes to plant maintenance—things like the pool, custodial and landscaping services, copy machine services and annual improvements such as technology upgrades. Ms. Miller confirmed that Presentation spends between $150,000 to $200,000 each year on technology upgrades, which accounts for benefits that directly impact students, like the wireless network, laptop carts and room projectors that so many schools don’t have.

Student activities, such as sports, clubs and some school field trips, receive 5 percent of the budget. Finally, Pres spends about 3.5 percent for utilities like electricity and water, 1 percent to put on the fundraising events like Crab Feed and the Fashion Show, which always earn more than they cost, and less than 1 percent is spent on long-term building maintenance, which is essentially a savings account for unexpected building surprises like roof leaks or electrical rewiring.

Though this may sound like a boring and uneventful breakdown of money, our school could not run without faculty and staff, buildings or running water. In short, the tuition money paid to Presentation helps keep the school in one piece.

Two Grand More?!

Believe it or not, paying tuition does not quite cover the actual cost to attend Presentation. Being a student at Pres actually cost $1, 642 above and beyond the tuition. Here’s where the “OMG, more money?” complaints start pouring in, where students and parents grouse about the many fundraisers Pres holds, such as Mag Drive, candy sales, the auction, and the fashion show. Ms. Miller knows that $1,642 is a large gap to make up every year, and that fundraisers take up a great deal of time for students and parents. “I’m completely aware that we nickel and dime you to death,” she said. “That’s Catholic school for you. And if we didn’t have to we wouldn’t.”

Yet without this fundraising, that $1,600 gap would have to be added to everyone’s tuition. With the money earned from fundraising, Presentation is able to pay for building projects, scholarships and additional student activities. Many students don’t know it, said Miller, but the cost of things like sports and this newspaper you’re reading exceed student fees by $100,000.

Still, many Pres girls may wonder why Pres doesn’t skip the annoying fundraising altogether and just add the money to tuition. In addition to the fact that it would simply be unaffordable to many Pres families, Miller pointed out that many parents appreciate the ability to write off fundraising expenses on their taxes.

Fundraising

Though this may seem unfair, Ms. Miller explained this idea thoroughly: “Fundraising is like planting a tree that someone else can someday sit under. When you plant it, it is small and provides no shade, but when the next group of people comes along, they can fully benefit from all of the tree’s shade.” The money that families fundraised in 2000 and 2001 gave students from 2002 to the present the luxury of the comfortable, updated and air-conditioned theater.

Every year, the parent board chooses which projects they will support with the fundraising money. This year, Presentation’s goal is to finish installing double-paned windows to be more energy-efficient. The other large projects will be determined in January 2011.

Is It Worth It?

Each and every aspect of campus that we take for granted comes with a price. Air conditioning in the new building for warm days costs a large amount of money. A student can sit comfortably in a classroom and Presentation can attract and retain good teachers. If tuition prices were to go down, this luxury would be gone, causing a lot less focus and a lot more paper fans.

If students were more informed about what their money goes to, they might be less inclined to complain so much. They would be happy to know that magazine drive actually supports the clubs and activities they are active in. Freshman Alexis Dulin agrees with this idea. “I think that we have a right to know where our money goes at Presentation. Students would probably be more willing to support fundraising like magazine drive if they knew that the money benefitted them.”

Now that some light is shed on where exactly money at Presentation goes, there’s no excuse to complain about it. Information is readily available to students if they just ask.

Speaking of fundraising, new projects on a school campus don’t just magically appear. Since all of the girls currently on campus did not experience the “new building” when it was “new” for example, many students take it for granted. The theater and classrooms were constructed in 2002, but the families whose fundraising supported this never received its benefits.

Don’t Fence Me In

A girl competing in sports is commonplace, especially in soccer, volleyball, ice skating, or even swimming. However, when almost all the participants in a sport are guys, that sport becomes a little more challenging.

With fencing there are so few girls who compete that it is a cause for celebration whenever another girl joins my fencing club. While Presentation girls get many opportunities to be with boys—like dances, football games, and through friends—competing directly against them in an aggressive sport can be nerve-wracking. Not only is it fast-paced, but strength and endurance are required to ultimately be victorious. Boys usually have the advantage in those areas, but instead I use my mental abilities and fast footwork to hold my own. It is difficult to keep up with the quick pace that the boys set, but using brain power helps me think of strategies to get away from their quick touches. I can get them where they least expect it: by analyzing what they do when they are fencing another opponent. Observation is key to figuring out the tactics needed to win the bout.

I have had several encounters with guys who say to their friends around them, “Oh, I’ll definitely win this one, she’s just a girl.” I never let this faze me because I just show them with my actions instead of using my words. They assume that just because I am female that I am not as capable at competing. But I sure do surprise them by the end of the bout. Even if I cannot defeat a highly ranked boy, I can usually convince him that he has his hands full. I feel proud when I hear respect in his voice when we congratulate each other at the end of a bout.

Most people do not know I am a national fencer. Fencing is not one of the most popular sports in this country. That may be because people don’t see as much about fencing in the media, as they do see of other popular sports. However, there are 20 clubs in the Bay Area, and of those two are in San Jose. When I was younger I tried a variety of sports typical of little girls: dance, gymnastics and volleyball. None of these really satisfied my need for competition though, and eventually I found my love in fencing. Now I proudly display the image of a fencing sword on my Presentation ring.

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