Back to School Night: Thursday, August 28

Join us for the CHS/DLS Back to School Night, this Thursday, August 28 at 6:30 PM. Meet your student’s teachers, follow their schedule, and get a snapshot of the year ahead.

Check your email this Tuesday, as you will receive your daughter’s individual schedule and campus maps to help you get ready for the big night.

Admissions season opens Monday, September 1, and we’re excited to start getting to know the Class of 2030! Prospective families will be able to register for admissions events, including our ever-popular Student Preview Days—these fill up quickly every year!

As proud members of the Carondelet community, you know the heart of what makes this place so special. Share the love—tell a friend, neighbor, or coworker with an 8th grade girl about what Carondelet has to offer!



Please share our inquiry form so they can join our email list and be the first to know when registration goes live.

Extreme Heat Protocols for Athletics 

Our fall athletic teams have started practices and games are just around the corner. It is not uncommon at this time of year for us to see an increase in temperatures and our athletes' health and safety are always the top priority. Here are the protocols our Athletic Department will follow on high temperature days that align with CIF guidelines.

• Check WetBulb Globe Temperature readings every 30 minutes starting at 2:30 PM. 
• If necessary, notify coaches to adjust outside athletic activities to follow guidelines within zone readings. 
• Provide additional shade, water, and or alternative spaces for outside athletic activities if needed for athletes and coaches.

Communication about changes for outside athletic activities due to extreme heat will come from the Athletics Department to coaches, then coaches to athletes and families.

Frosh Overnight Retreat: Friday, Sept. 12–Saturday, Sept. 13

Camp Alpha is a foundational retreat experience that helps ease the transition into high school and often paves the way for strong friendships and a sense of belonging. Icebreakers, reflections, community builders, discussions, and prayers are led by older students and faculty and staff. The deadline to register your student is Monday, September 1.

Corazon, Shalom, and Kairos Retreats for Grades 10, 11, 12

All fall retreat rosters are now finalized and the Retreat Date Change Request deadline has passed. There will be a $75 fee for any additional requests to change fall retreat dates. Families who missed the initial retreat registration window can submit a request to be added to any retreat with available space or to join a waitlist by using the forms below:

• Corazon Late Date Request
• Shalom Late Date Request
• Kairos Late Date Request

Attendance & Safety Updates: Early Outs & Late Arrivals

We want to remind our school community of our expectations regarding student attendance and early dismissals. Students are expected to remain on campus for all scheduled classes throughout the school day. Early dismissals, late arrivals, and absences should be reserved for extenuating circumstances or appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours.

Additionally, our campus is closed during the school day. Early dismissals for lunch will only be granted in one-off emergency situations. These are not intended for students to routinely leave campus to pick up lunch or run errands. Visit the Attendance webpage for more Attendance information.

End of Day Dismissal: B Days

On B Days (typically Wednesdays and Fridays), all Carondelet and De La Salle students are dismissed at the same time, creating heavier traffic. On other days, dismissal is staggered, which shortens wait times. To help reduce congestion, please plan to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes after the final bell.

Families arriving before the final bell should plan to park in the Visitor lot and expect up to a 30-minute wait as both schools release simultaneously. Please do not double park or wait in the fire lane.

Updated Back Gate Exit Plan

To help keep traffic moving in the afternoons, we’ve created two exit lanes at the back gate: the left lane exits left, and the right lane turns right. Please plan accordingly. If you are turning right, refer to the map below for directions on navigating the neighborhood to reach Treat Blvd. Keeping traffic moving steadily through the back gate will help us clear the lot more quickly. Thank you for your cooperation!

Make-Up Testing Program

We have made some changes to our make-up testing to improve the process and ensure that the system is being used appropriately. It gets a little too technical for the eNews, so please look for an email this week from Principal of Academics Elizabeth Chaponot, Ph.D. about updates to the Make-Up Testing.

Skirt Length Check

Please take a moment this weekend to ensure your daughter’s skirt aligns with our dress code. Skirts should fall below the fingertips (approximately 4 inches above the knee) and must be from Dennis Uniform or Lands' End. Lululemon and other athleisure skirts are not permitted. As always, the primary responsibility for a student’s attire rests with the student and their parents or guardians. Multiple skirt length violations will result in the loss of skirt privileges. If your daughter needs a refresh, new skirts and skorts are available in our Lands' End store. We appreciate your support!

Invitation to PowerLab: Support for Student Success

We’re excited to invite your student to PowerLab PowerStart, beginning Monday, August 25. This program provides customized academic support and helps students build strong habits for success.

If you believe your student would benefit, and with their permission, please complete our PowerLab Referral Form to help our Academic & Learning Support team best partner with them this year.

PowerLab/PowerStart Sessions in the Library:

• Monday–Thursday: 7:30–8:10 AM & 2:50–3:45 PM
• Late Start Wednesdays begin at 8:30 AM

PowerLab support ranges from quick check-ins to ongoing academic coaching, alongside teacher office hours. Our goal is to build independence, confidence, and ownership of learning.

For questions, contact Director of Academic & Learning Support Merrilee Silveira or the ALS team. We welcome both proactive referrals and early interventions.

RSVP Today for Carondelet’s Fathers Club Meeting

All Carondelet dads are invited to our first meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 9, at 6:30 PM in the Jean Hofmann Center for Innovation. Come enjoy dinner, a 15-minute talk, and socialize with other dads. RSVP Today!

Volunteer Clearance Information

In order to be a cleared Carondelet volunteer, you must complete a LiveScan request and upload the required documents to our Parent Engagement Manager. When all items are completed and verified, you will receive an email from Carondelet confirming your clearance. If you have not received an email of clearance, but have uploaded all documentation to volunteer, please reach out to Candice Mannoni. Be sure to read through all the requirements on the volunteer clearance webpage.

CSF Drive Opens Monday, August 25

The Fall 2025 California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Membership Drive opens tomorrow, Monday, August 25 and closes on Monday, September 8. CSF recognizes students for high academic achievement, service, and citizenship. Eligible students must apply each semester—membership is not automatic. For details on requirements and eligibility, visit the official CSF website. Questions? Contact Registrar and CSF Advisor Nattiel A. Arias.

Are you creative, organized, or an event planner extraordinaire? We’re looking for volunteers to join our Auction Committee for Carondelet High School’s biggest fundraising events for the year: Visions of Christmas, Crab Feed, and Cougar Classic. Whether you have a few hours to give or plenty of time to be involved, there’s a place for you! Help us with planning, outreach, and brainstorming fresh ideas—and be part of the magic that makes these events unforgettable. Interested in getting involved? Contact Development Manager Mandy Sullivan.

All Students:

• Colleges will be on campus to introduce their schools and answer questions as part of an Out-of-State College Fair at Carondelet on Thursday, September 4, from 1:20 to 3:30 PM. Register now. The fair will include TCU, Arizona State University, Baylor, and the University of Utah. See the full list of colleges that are coming to the fair.
• The Jesuit Excellence College Tour (JET) will be on the De La Salle campus at lunch on Thursday, September 11. Stop by and learn more about Jesuit colleges.

All Students and Families:

• College Counseling is pleased to invite all Carondelet students and families to our annual Road to College Night on Thursday, September 25 at 6:00 PM via Zoom. A variety of informative college-related workshops will be offered. Details will be made available in the upcoming weeks.
• Carondelet is excited to continue our partnership with Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method, to support our families with the financial aid process. A resource page has been created specifically for Carondelet families (passcode: chscmm).

Seniors:

• Seniors have a mandatory Cougar U College Workshop on Wednesday, September 3 at 1:40 PM.
• On Wednesday, September 17, College Counseling will be participating in a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair at Pittsburg High School from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This event allows seniors to engage directly with recruiters from over 30 HBCUs to gain insights into academic programs, campus life, scholarship opportunities, application waivers, and possibly earn on the spot admissions! Please complete this form before Monday, September 1, if you are interested in attending. Additional information about the event and permission slips will be sent closer to the date. 
• The first Money Method webinar, Succeeding in the Financial Aid Process, is for senior families and will be held on Zoom Tuesday, September 30 at 6:30 PM.

Juniors & Seniors: 

• College reps have begun visiting Carondelet and De La Salle campuses. All juniors and seniors are able to attend these presentations with teacher approval and filled out pass at least 48 hours in advance. Make sure to check MaiaLearning weekly for up-to-date information on visits and to register.

Juniors:

• Juniors have a mandatory Cougar U: College Workshop on Thursday, August 28 at 1:40 PM. 

Freshmen, Sophomores, & Juniors:

• Freshmen and Sophomores are invited to attend monthly Lunch and Learns to hear about a variety of college and career-related topics. Students can register through the link on their Schoology College Hub or with their school email address at the links below.
• Tuesday, August 26 - Freshmen and transfer students can learn about high school and college counseling basics. 
• Wednesday, September 3 - Students in any grade can learn about what colleges look for when they review applications. 

Carondelet shares these opportunities for informational purposes only. We do not affiliate with or endorse any particular organizations.

Welcome Carondelet Families!

It was wonderful to see so many friendly faces at our Coffee Kickoff and Freshman Social events! We loved highlighting all the ways we come together and celebrate on behalf of our students and school community.

For more information about supporting our fundraising events and initiatives* (as a volunteer, sponsor, or guest), please consider your Carondelet Development Team a resource. We’re excited to work with you!

*2025–26 Opportunities to Engage and Support:

• Power of Her Campaign
• 1965 Society
• Visions of Christmas
• Tuition Assistance
• Crab Feed
• Sisterhood Fund
• Cougar Classic Golf Tournament

Thank you!

Join our 1965 Society Today

Generous donors who make annual gifts of $1,965 or more in an academic year are invited to a reception with our President and recognized in Many the Gifts as members of the 1965 Society, commemorating the year of Carondelet's founding.

We invite those who aren't already members to join today by making a gift of $1,965 or more. In honor of your generosity, you'll immediately receive an invitation to our Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, September 3.

In addition, for the first time we are offering members of our 1965 Society early access to ticket sales for Visions of Christmas! This event sells out quickly, so this is a wonderful new benefit.



Tuition covers approximately 90% of our annual budget, and we rely on our community's generosity to bridge this gap by making an annual gift of $1,965.

Please reach out to the Director of Philanthropy Lynne Sabbagha Kenny ’86 P’24 to review your giving history or learn more about this donor society. Thank you to our current and future members!

The Cannon provides a supportive, restorative, and community-building space where all students are welcome. Students are encouraged to drop in during break, lunch, or after school to participate in ongoing wellness activities and programming. They may also make individual counseling appointments, as needs arise.

Parents, guardians, and students are encouraged to contact a wellness counselor if they have any questions or concerns regarding emotional health and well-being and would like support or community referral information.

Please visit the Cannon Wellness Center webpage for more information and links to resources, student appointment request form, and our Virtual Cannon Wellness site.

MySchoolBucks by Epicurean

Epicurean provides high-quality, healthy meals for Carondelet’s students, faculty, and staff to purchase. Current students who have a MySchoolBucks account can add money to their account now. New students can add money to their account using their student school ID number. Follow these instructions and select "Carondelet High School (Concord)" from the dropdown menu in MySchoolBucks. If you have any questions setting up your account, please contact Epicurean directly by emailing General Manager Candace Barnes. View the Garaventa Cafe webpage for more information about food options and Epicurean.

Visit the Garaventa Cafe webpage for more information.

New Raptor Visitor Management System

This year, Carondelet will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System to strengthen our program of campus safety for students. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff.  

Visitors will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s License. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification. Visitor names and date of birth are used to check against the national database of registered sex offenders. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any external parties.  

The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor Visitor Management System allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols at Carondelet.

If you have questions regarding the new system, please reach out to Front Office Manager Melyssa Sibal.