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Christmas Concert
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You and Your Family and Friends Are Invited
Holy Names High School Christmas Concert
Friday, December 9, 7:30 p.m.
This year for our annual Christmas Concert, the HNHS Orch estra is delighted to be playing Tchaikovsky's holiday classic, The Nutcracker Suite. It is wonderfully challenging music, and the orchestra is doing a fantastic job. They have worked very hard all semester and they sound terrific!
The Choir and Vocal Ensemble will take the listeners on a musical journey that paints wintery pictures as well as delights the ear with traditional melodies. Their voices are simply glorious!
Please come and hear our talented students perform on Friday, December 9th at 7:30 p.m. We hope to see you all there!
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Speech and Debate Team Competes
| by Ms. Ann Marie Slevin, Moderator
The HNHS Speech & Debate team had it first competition on Saturday, December 3rd, at Pinole Valley High School. Almost 400 students were there, competing from 24 different schools. The Monarch competitors gave their speeches in three preliminary rounds, competing in the Dramatic, Humorous, and Thematic Interpretation, as well as the Impromptu categories.
Debate Team members: Back row from left: Munah Kaye, Lola Shonaike, TanYonika Scott Front row from left: Kadira Cook, Coralie Rodriguez, Eva Harmon, Maya Bello  | Maya with her award
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All six girls who competed did well, and sophomore Maya Bello made it to the final round in the Humorous Interpretation category, with her presentation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid! We were very pleased with the results of our first-ever competition and look forward to bringing a larger team to the next meet in January. Special thanks to parent volunteer coach Chris Harmon, who has been invaluable to the team. |
Achieve Party
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by Ms. Lesley Garcia, Counselor
Students in the Achieve program attended the Achieve Holiday Christmas Party at the SF Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) on Sunday, December 5 along with Achieve students from Riordan and Mercy High Schools in San Francisco. We heard inspirational words of wisdom from former 49er players Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton and the San Francisco Foundation CEO, Dr. Sandra Hernandez. Our HNHS students wowed the audience with several talent performances. The theme of the day was "giving back to the community," and over three barrels of toys were collected for the SF Fire Department's Toys For Tots program.

Back row: former 49er Harris Barton, Dr. Sandra Hernandez, former 49er Ronnie Lott, and parent Fa Moa
Middle row left to right: 9th graders Jackie Ochoa, Jocelyn Icaza, Sofia Ascencio, Daisy Rangel, Jennifer Vasquez
Front row left to right: 9th graders RaJean Flowers and Madison Coots
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Kittens and Bunnies and Dogs, Oh My!
| by Ms. Sarah Spengeman
On Wednesday, November 30th, volunteers from Oakland Animal Services, Paw Fund, and Cat Town brought adoptable animals to meet HNHS students. The event was sponsored by the HNHS Animal Rights Club in order to raise awareness about the hundreds of animals which need adoption here in the East Bay and to encourage students to choose adoption instead of buying an animal from a breeder or a pet store. Jimmy the bunny was adopted by Jennifer Urdaneta and her family, and many of these animals are still hoping to find their way into your heart and home! Visit oaklandanimalservices.org for more information.
Click on the photo above or HERE to see more pictures.
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Mother-Daughter Tea
| by Ms. DeJuana Aldrich
The Mother-Daughter Senior Tea was an event designed to be a relaxing social time for
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ASB President Maya Castro and her Mom
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Many stayed the entire time, relishing the opportunity to socialize with each other and others from the Class of 2012.
Click on the photo or HERE to see more pictures of the tea. |
Study Skills
| by Ms. Lesley Garcia, Counselor
A few dedicated 9th and 10th grade students attended an after school study skills workshop presented by our volunteer Dr. Lori Knight-Bakar on Wednesday, November 30. Students heard tips on studying and received helpful handouts in preparation for finals week.  |
AIDS Awareness
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by Ms. Paula Wujek, Activities Director
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Bryanna Davis '13 at cake walk
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The BSU Club hosted a cake walk at lunch to raise awareness of AIDS in the African American community. Students walked in a circular path of numbers, and if their number was called, they were asked a question about HIV/AIDS. If they answered correctly, they got a delicious red velvet cupcake!
The activity was a follow-up to the AIDS Assembly during which we remembered World Aids Day, celebrated on December 1. Students reviewed facts about transmission of the disease, learned some statistics, and heard monologues of young people living with HIV. We finished our Assembly by praying for compassion, understanding, and an end to this dise ase.
Students also bought free dress for $1 and $36 was raised for the East Bay AIDS Walk.
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Play Review and Photos
| The fantastic cast of "Danger--Girls Working" showed off their acting chops and their 1930s fashion style sensibilities to a delighted and appreciative audience. The mystery-comedy was a huge success and the students are already getting ready for the Spring Musical!
Click on the photo to enjoy the pictures of the play in our HNHS Photo Gallery. Remember, you can download single photos or the entire album.
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Click on the photo to view play pictures
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Prayer Service
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by Ms. Molleen Dupree-Dominguez, Campus Minister
Campus Ministry Team prepared a Prayer Service to reflect on the
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left, Maura Granados; right, Nicole Sanders
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holiday of Thanksgiving. This event took place on Tuesday, November 22. Two faculty members-- Mr. Dan Lommen and Ms. Sarah LeMier--shared their reflections on Thanksgiving. The Outreach committee prepared a skit about finding one's talents. Sophomore Kidan Hull sang our school's theme song for the year, "I Believe," during the skit. Also, the new members of Campus Ministry Team were blessed at this service. They are: Pimpisa Pechvijitra, Lola Shonaike, Cotys Winston-Sandefur, Eleanor Good, Tano'afa Moa, Nyila Webb, and Patricia Martinez.
Pictured are members of Campus Ministry Team posing with the "tree of Thanksgiving" on which students placed leaves stating that for which they are grateful. The tree is displayed in the HNHS cafeteria.
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Spirit of Giving
| by Ms. Molleen Dupree-Dominguez, Campus Minister

Religious Studies 12 welcomed special guest speakers on Friday, December 2. In the course, students studied vocation and sacraments. HNHS parents, Mr. Jose Luis and Mrs. Katie Ascencio, came to share their reflections on Marriage as Vocation. The two shared candid remarks and stories from their long union, and the students were captivated by their words. Many thanks to the Ascencios for sharing their wisdom! |
Not For Sale Club
| Bracelets help New Day for Children
 | bottom (left to right): Grace Kellett, Christina Herrera; top (left to right): Maura Granados, Natalia Vargas | The Not For Sale Club hosted a bracelet making party on Friday, December 2. At lunch, students created the friendship bracelets to support New Day for Children. New Day for Children is a home and school for American teens who have been victims of human trafficking.
The organization sells these bracelets at speaking events to raise money for their facility. The project is part of the ongoing effort at Holy Names to spotlight Children in Poverty, our charity and justice theme for 2011-2012.

Senior Emily Soldavini created the graphic on the left to represent the work of Holy Names students in highlighting the issue of Children in Poverty this year. |
The Crab Feed is Coming!
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HNHS Alumnae, Parents of Alums, Current Parents/Guardians, and Friends! We are looking for auction items for our Crab Feed/Silent Auction event coming soon on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Below are donation suggestions for our Silent Auction. We encourage you to donate items or packages. Deadline for all items is January 20, 2012. New ideas for auction items are welcomed! If you have any questions, please call Kathryn Moir in the Development Office at (510) 450-1110 ext. 118. * Travel & Leisure: Vacation homes, excess frequent flyer miles, hotel vacations, time-shares, tours, bed & breakfast weekend packages, spa treatments, cruises. * Dining & Entertainment: Dinners at local restaurants, wine, gift certificates for the theater, concerts, movies. * Theme Baskets: Art, movie lover, pool party, dog/cat, pasta, chocolate, baking, wine & cheese, Valentines, birthday, children, jewelry, cooking items, garden, family games. * Sports & Fitness: Tennis or golf lessons, ski packages or lift tickets, fitness club memberships, tickets to the 49er's, Warriors, Giants, or Sharks, a round of golf at local courses, gift certificates at REI or Sportsmart, boat rentals. * Home & Garden: Kitchen supplies, garden tools, car washes, flowers, plants or gift certificates from nurseries, paintings or prints, decorator items. * Services: Call your financial planner, realtor, cleaning service, car repair shop, hair salon, handy-person, or private tutor and ask them to donate their time or service. * Retail businesses: Ask store owners to make a donation to the Auction Let's make this the best year yet as we celebrate our 22nd Annual Crab Feed. Don't forget to get your reservations in. Our Crab Feed is always a sellout and we don't want you to miss it! |
Chinook Books Fundraiser
| Chinook Books are Here!
This year Holy Names High School is introducing a brand new, exciting fundraiser. We are selling "Chinook Books" a collection of deals from the best green and local merchants in the Bay Area. They work with businesses that treat their employees and suppliers well, minimize their environmental impact, and play a vibrant role in their neighborhood. Available in both print and mobile (iPhone� & Android�), each Chinook Book contains local resources, neighborhood maps and amazing offers on: Restaurants Organic groceries  |
left to right: Alaysia Brooks '12 and Eleanor Good '15
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Yoga and fitness Theater and museums Outdoor recreation gear Gardening supplies Green building supplies Clothing and gifts They can be purchased through our Business Office and will be available until December 16. The official fundraiser will kick off in January. Since the fundraiser will include a competition for Spirit Week points to determine which class sells the most, be sure to tell us which student receives credit when you purchase your books. These make wonderful stocking stuffers! If you would like to help us sell books, please contact Ms. Wujek at (510) 450-1110, ext. 141 |
Date Revision
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Winter Ball
Our Winter Ball will be held at Salesian High School on Saturday, January 21, from 7:30-10:30 p.m., NOT January 14 as stated in the last newsletter. Tickets will be on sale starting December 12.
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Exam Time!
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Calling all Monarchs to organize your notes, get out those review sheets and spend concentrated time preparing for next week's exams. The exam schedule is: Tuesday, December 13 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. - A Block Exam 10:00 a.m. - Christmas Assembly Wednesday, December 14 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. - B Block Exam 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. - C Block Exam Thursday, December 15 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. - D Block Exam 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. - E Block Exam Friday, December 16 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. - F Block Exam 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. - G Block Exam NOTE: The school building will close at 12:30 pm next week. There will be no shuttle service in the afternoon next week, only in the morning. |
Pies for the Holidays
| Need something to take to your upcoming holiday potluck?  Are you in the mood for some seasonal dessert favorites?
Epicurean is pleased to offer the HNHS community a holiday treat. Specially prepared by our Epicurean chefs and for $8.95 each, you may select from apple, pumpkin, and sweet potato pie. Pies will be sold on a pre-order basis only. You may pre-order your holiday pie by contacting Chef Iliana at (510) 395-0036 or via email at The last day to order is Friday December 9th. Pie pick-up is scheduled for the last day of finals, Friday, December 16th.
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Friendly Reminder
| From Judith Coseteng in the Business Office
Did you get a Blue Slip? Students need to turn in their Blue Slip when all obligations are cleared, to the Business Office before December 6th to receive their exam permit. |
School Notes
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Take Note:
Schedule Reminders
December 2011 9 - Christmas Concert
19 - January 3 - Christmas Break
January 2012
4 - 10 Midsession
21 - Winter Ball
28 - Crab Feed
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2011 Graduates Gather On Friday, December 16th at 11:00 a.m. our 2011 graduates have been invited back to campus to celebrate the season and share stories with their classmates and faculty. 2011 grads, your invitations are in the mail. Come and join us on the 16th! Applications for summer opportunities are now open! Are you interested in conservation, exploring the outdoors, studying in Europe or New York City, or doing a science internship? Come to the Counseling Office and view the summer opportunities binder for information and application websites. Many deadlines to apply are in January and February. Reading Tutors Needed Super Stars Literacy is requesting HNHS students after school one day a week to help tutor youth in grades K-2 one-on-one or in small groups in reading and writing activities. See the volunteer opportunities board in the Counseling Office for details. Student Volunteer Opportunity Student volunteers are needed at Lend A Hand Foundation's Annual Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 17. Your help is needed at the tables, with face painting, doing crafts, and helping with activities for the children attending. See Ms. Garcia for more information, if you are interested. Love Math? Do you love math and are a high achiever in your math class? If so, the Saint Mary's College of CA Summer Mathematics Camp, or (SMC)2, is a free one-week-long residential summer mathematics enrichment program for mathematically gifted high-school age students from the San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. Applications are due December 30. See the summer opportunities binder in the Counseling Office for information. SAT Strategy Are you interested in a FREE online 10-part SAT test-taking strategy lecture? The series can be accessed 24/7. Register online anytime at myesat.com.
Princeton Award Are you working towards improving tolerance and racial harmony at school or in the community? If so, Princeton University is offering a $1,000 award and an all expense-paid weekend symposium on race relations for students in grades 9-12. Applications are due January 31. Visit princeton.edu/pprize. |
Excellence Blog
| Our Blog Has Begun!
Holy Names High School has started a blog to display outstanding student work. Please click on the image below to read the first entry. This entry is from a student in Religious Studies 12 about her Service-Learning experience.
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Volunteers Needed
| Library Help Needed
Ever want to work in a school library? We are looking for parent volunteers twice monthly on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you are interested, please contact Kris Waller in the library at kwaller@hnhsoakland.org or (510) 450-1110, ext. 122.
Kitchen Help Calling all parent volunteers! Your services are needed in the cafeteria to wash dishes. There are two shifts available Monday through Friday. The first shift is 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. and the second is 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. The work entails washing the pots and pans that the talented Chef Iliana uses to create healthy and delicious lunches and also cleaning the plates and utensils our girls use.
If you have any time to spare (or know of another family member or friend who does), we would greatly appreciate your services. While we are looking for those who are able to volunteer on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly), we also gladly accept one-time-only offers! Please contact Ms. Carr at kcarr@hnhsoakland.org or at (510) 450-1110 ext. 116 for more information and to sign-up. Office Help If you have time to spare during the 2011-12 school year, your assistance in the Main Office would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Ms. Henry (510) 450-1110 ext. 100.
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Grad Night!
| New information and schedule for Grad Night!
The Class of 2012 will be taking off on May 17th for Disneyland, returning on May 19th.
Click below for a pdf of the grad trip flyer.
Grad Night Information
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For Emergency Only
| EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NEEDS
Recently ATT needed to do some repair work to their lines and the phone line at HNHS was not working. If that should happen in the future and ONLY IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH SOMEONE ON THE SCHOOL PHONE, during the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. you can call (510) 910-0468 which is an emergency cell phone line.
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ON-LINE GIVING |
Support Holy Names High School!
HNHS is now offering on-line giving. We have a site set up on a secure server. Go to www.hnhsoakland.org and under IMPORTANT INFORMATION, click on the on-line giving link. You will enter EZDonor's secure site and you can use either your VISA or MasterCard to charge your donation.
There are many giving options that may be of interest to you now available on this site. We appreciate the support of our alums, current parents and families of alums, faculty, staff, and friends who give so generously to HNHS.
Your on-line gift today for the annual campaign will ensure that we have your support to continue educating women leaders.
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Help HNHS While You Shop
| The SHARES Program and e-Script
The SHARES program and e-Script are ways to support our students' activities through grocery purchases at both Lucky's and Safeway stores. Both give 3% of the total purchases made by a customer with a SHARES card (see below for the program flyer) or e-Script (see below to go to the registration page). Thanks to HNHS community members and the support of Safeway Stores, Inc., the eScrip program has made a significant impact on our fundraising efforts. If you would like to continue supporting our school with contributions through Safeway, Macy's, and other merchants, visit the e-scrip registration page. Once you are on the registration page, you can type in Holy Names High School, or use the school's Group ID, 3625828, to access the next step in the registration process. Although we often ask our parents for donations to help cover expenses related to our students' extracurricular activities, this is actually a chance to support those activities at no cost. Thank you for your continued support of Holy Names High School. e-scrip registration page Click here for the Shares Program Flyer.
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Shuttle To and From Rockridge BART
| Your Ride is Ready!
There has been a positive response to our new shuttle service. For the morning ride, students will be picked up at the Rockridge BART east parking lot at 7:30 a.m. The afternoon schedule is still being worked out to accommodate students' activities. Contact Mr. Lommen if you will be needing this service. All students who plan to ride the shuttle will need to fill out a permission slip and return it to Mr. Lommen. Please ask Mr. Lommen for this form or download it by clicking on the ride form below. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Lommen. Ride Form (use the Field Trip form)  |
Showing off the new van, (from left) sophomore Erika Barrios and seniors Sara Boyd, Adriana Gonzalez, and Ariel Webb
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The AC Transit dedicated bus will still offer service to and from HNHS just before school and at dismissal, and our new shuttle service will take place before and after school. |
B.A.R.T.'s TEEN X-TREEM
| Teenage Student Discount Ticket Program
Students can ride at a 50% discount!
Student Discount Tickets have a face value of $32.00 but sell for $16.00 (cash value).
A 2011-2012 BART Certification Form (available at the Business Office) must be completed and signed by a parent or legal guardian before you can purchase this ticket. Last school year's forms are no longer valid.
Start saving. Go green!
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Learn More About Holy Names High School
| Please let us know if you or anyone you know would like more information about Holy Names High School. You can request an information packet by completing our inquiry form or by contacting our Admissions Director at (510) 450-1110 ext. 119 or scarrillo@hnhsoakland.org INQUIRY FORM
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Facebook
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Holy Names High School now has a Facebook page! Check it out. (click below)
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If you have some noteworthy news that you would like us to include in our e-newsletter, we'd like to know about it. Perhaps your daughter has won an award, participated in a service project, or performed in a musical event outside of school.
Please respond to this newsletter or contact Jan Buscho at the phone number below. Sincerely, Jan Buscho Holy Names High School 4660 Harbord Dr. Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 450-1110 ext. 135 jbuscho@hnhsoakland.org |
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