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Community eNews | November 16, 2025 | | Congratulations to the 14 (a record number!) students-athletes who signed their commitment letters this week to play a sport in college! Read more about each athletes accomplishments on the Athletics webpage, see more photos on SmugMug, and give it a "like" over on our Instagram. | | A Message from the Director of Campus Ministry: | |
Dear Carondelet Community,
Fall Greetings! In a moment of reflection this week, I realized that the art of letting go is mirrored in the falling autumn leaves. As winter nears, the end of our fall season reminds us all to release what prevents us from living in unity and service to others.
This week, our final group of juniors will participate in their Junior Immersion, serving at Monument Crisis Center to learn about food insecurity and encounter hard-working families who still struggle to put food on the table. This immersive religion class experience often changes hearts by inviting students to let go of old stereotypes. Sophomores attending the Corazón Retreat this week are also practicing the art of letting go. Their day of reflection is designed to help students reflect on what it means to be a “Woman of Heart” and release the things that divide them so that they can build healthy, inclusive friendships.
As our juniors and sophomores are invited to soften their hearts this fall through retreat and service, our Thanksgiving Liturgy this week invites everyone in our community to attune their hearts to gratitude and respond to abundance with generosity. Our prayer service will be completely planned and led by students and will challenge each of us to give what we can in order to positively impact those most in need. We will hear student reflections and celebrate our commitment to loving and serving our dear neighbor without distinction, and introduce our Advent Justice Project that will begin immediately after Thanksgiving Break. Stay tuned for information on how to support the project in future editions of the eNews!
As the wind turns cooler and the green leaves turn red and orange, we are all reminded that life continually invites us to turn. We are called to turn our hearts from judgment to understanding, turn our relationships from division to inclusion, and turn our words from hurtful to unitive. Autumn is a perfect time to pause, take in the beauty around us, and listen to how God might be calling each one of us to turn and let go.
In Unifying Love,
Edie Payne
Director of Campus Ministry
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Upcoming Dates
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| | | Pro tip: Read your eNewsletter weekly to stay in the know! | |
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| | Progress Reports - Monday, Nov. 17 | | Progress Reports will be released on Monday, November 17. This is an important checkpoint, especially with only three weeks of school left before finals. Students should review their PowerSchool updates, reach out to teachers, and make use of Office Hours and PowerLab for extra support. | | | |
Fourteen Student-Athletes Commit to College Athletics
Congratulations to 14 of our amazing student-athletes (a record number!) who committed to play sports at the collegiate level today at our Fall Commitment Ceremony!
Addison Bowles - Soccer at Iona University
Taylor Chestnut - Water Polo at Santa Clara University
Layla Dixon - Basketball at the University of California, Davis
Josie Haast - Water Polo at Indiana University
Natalie Hilmen - Lacrosse at Haverford College
Kat Kracht - Swimming at Pepperdine University
Katie Lin - Lacrosse at Wellesley College
Clara O’Connor - Water Polo at San Diego State University
Siena Santos - Swimming at Virginia Tech
Elle Sloan - Soccer at the University of Houston
Isabella Warner - Rowing at the University of Pennsylvania
Mimi Westphal - Lacrosse at Austin Peay
Sarah Wright - Water Polo at University of Michigan
Gretchen Yakaitis - Cross Country and Track & Field at University of California, Berkeley
Winter Sports Rosters
Thank you and congratulations to all our winter sports athletes who took the time to try out for our soccer and basketball teams. Finalized and official rosters will be posted on our athletics website after all tryouts are complete.
Winter Sports Liturgy—Tuesday, December 2
All athletes who are rostered on a winter sports team are required to attend our Winter Sports Liturgy on Tuesday, December 2. Athletes will meet during X Block from 1:45 to 2:50 PM. More details will be coming soon.
Fall Sports Updates
Golf
Congratulations to our Varsity Golf team for placing 3rd overall at the NorCal tournament in Berkeley. Lily Peng was the NorCal Championship tournament gold medalist. The team of six players will advance to the CIF State Championship tournament on Wednesday, November 19, at Pebble Beach.
Water Polo
Well done, Water Polo, for bringing home the NCS Open Division Water Polo Championship title! The team will move on to the NorCal tournament this week, playing their first round game on Tuesday, November 18. Stay tuned for more details on NorCal games.
Cross Country
Our Cross Country team will advance to the NCS Championship meet in Hayward on Saturday, November 22.
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Get Your Tickets Now!
For more details about our Visions events, click here.
Online Auction is Open!
Our annual Visions of Christmas Online Auction is open now through 10:00 PM on November 23.
There are items for everyone on your Christmas list including a branded Adirondack chair set (handmade by Carondelet’s Engineering for Social Good students), airfare, wills/trusts attorney consulting, and so much more! Don't miss this opportunity to bid on Carondelet exclusives: Graduation VIP Experience, VIP Table for 10 for the 2026 Crab Feed, and parking for this spring semester and 2026–27 school year!
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Ways to Get Involved in Visions!
VOLUNTEER to help before, during, and after our in-person events. We couldn’t do this without your support! (CLEAN UP SLOTS ARE WORTH 4 POINTS FOR FRESHMAN FAMILIES)
DONATE a good, service, or experience to our Online Auction! If you have a business, hobby, or special talent, we would love to include you!
SHOP from home with our online registry for items that will be bundled into online auction packages.
STOCK our Instant Wine & Spirits Cellars to be added to our online auction.
| | | Parent & Family Engagement | | |
Carondelet Community Coffee Coming to Walnut Creek
Join us for some coffee and conversation on Thursday, November 20, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at Koin Coffee, 325 N Wiget Ln Suite #100, Walnut Creek. RSVP here. We can't wait to see you!
Father-Daughter Dance Tickets Available Now!
Join us for a special Father-Daughter Evening of dinner, dancing, fun activities, and more at this year's Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, December 6, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
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All Students:
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De La Salle is hosting a college fair on Tuesday, December 2, from 1:40 to 3:00 PM. Colleges attending include: The University of Utah, Seton Hall, Belmont, Creighton, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and many more!
Seniors:
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If you’d like your College Counselor to review your UC PIQs, you must share them with her by Monday, November 17. We strongly recommend that you submit your UC (and CSU) applications before the Thanksgiving break.
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There will be 2 HOWLs next week. HOTL will be on Tuesday, November 18, from 1:30 to 4:00 PM and HOWL during lunch on Wednesday, November 19.
Senior Parents:
- A helpful tip from past seniors is to kindly ask well-meaning relatives to steer clear of college talk during the holidays. These conversations, though well-intentioned, can add extra stress for students who are already feeling the pressure. After working so hard throughout the fall, seniors deserve a truly relaxing break.
Juniors and Seniors:
Juniors:
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There is a mandatory Cougar U workshop on Wednesday, December 10, from 1:40 to 2:50 PM in the Garaventa. This is the second workshop in the Cougar U series and will focus on steps to prepare for college.
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Register here for Winter Kickstart! A one-day winter session on Saturday, January 24, will focus on launching your college search, building your college list, and preparing for applications.
Sophomores and Juniors:
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All 10th and 11th-grade parents and guardians are encouraged to grab a cup of coffee and join the college counselors (virtually) for Coffee with the College Counselors at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, November 18. During this informal chat, parents can ask questions about all things college and get to know their students’ counselors. Register for the Zoom call today.
Sophomores:
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On December 3 and 4, College Counselors will be presenting to sophomores during their English classes to talk with them about selecting classes for their junior year. In late January and February, all students will have a required meeting with their College Counselor to select their classes. Students will also be introduced to the college search process using Maia, our college planning platform.
Carondelet shares these opportunities for informational purposes only. We do not affiliate with or endorse any particular organizations.
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We are grateful for individuals and families whose belief in our mission and have made extraordinary progress possible in this Campaign. Their investments have raised $2.6 million.
With less than $1 million to go, we feel a renewed sense of hope and determination. The Boscacci Performance Center opens to students after Thanksgiving break and we’ll celebrate at a ribbon-cutting with donors in January.
Every contribution to this campaign counts. Gifts of $1,000+ will be recognized on the Power of Her Donor Wall in the new Gym Lobby. Dedicated naming opportunities in the Performance Center and at the CAC are still available for those who wish to leave a lasting legacy.
Join us. The time is NOW!
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Spring Retreat Date Change Requests
All students who are signed up to attend a retreat next semester, please make sure you have your retreat dates in your calendar. If you need to change your spring retreat date, submit your request by Monday, December 1. Any date change requests after December 1 for Second Semester Retreats will result in a $75 Late Request Fee. Email Rick Grand-Lejano as soon as possible to get the correct Date Change Request Link for your retreat.
| | | Middle School Choir Opportunity | | |
Join us in giving the gift of music this Christmas season! All interested 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are encouraged to join the Carondelet and De La Salle Combined Choir’s annual coed Christmas Concert Event on Thursday, December 4. All registered participants will be required to attend a mandatory practice on campus before Thanksgiving Break. This fun and unique opportunity is perfect for all singing skill levels and is open to all local middle schoolers! Click here to learn more, spread the word, and sign up!
| | | Check out our online school store for new Carondelet branded apparel and merch! Start your holiday shopping early with our most recent sale items! Get some great swag and an awesome deal. | | |
School Store Orders
Pick up your orders in the Convent stairwell. Purchases are in alphabetical order. Contact the Proforma team if you cannot find your order.
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Thank You to Our Annual Event Sponsors!
| | "At the heart of our charism is the belief that we are all one, that God's love unites us beyond fear and division." ~ Sisters of St. Joseph | |
More than high school. Her School.
Connect with us.
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Mission: Carondelet High School inspires excellence by preparing young women to live with heart, faith, and courage in the Catholic tradition and spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Vision: A Carondelet graduate is empowered by her Catholic, college-preparatory education and is known as a woman who responds to the needs of the times and makes a positive difference.
| | Carondelet High School l 1133 Winton Drive l Concord, CA 94518 l CarondeletHS.org |
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