Monthly Archives: October 2018

Robotics Squads Deliver Strong Performances, State Qualifier in Home Tournament.

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img_0002-2.jpgBy Tommy Smeltzer

Chaminade’s Eagle Engineering robotics team has qualified a squad to compete in the California State Championship for the sixth consecutive year as team 1138A took home the top award at their home tournament, The Chaminade Showdown. At the same tournament, Team 83A, the Vex Robotics team from Chaminade middle school won the Judges Award.

As in previous years, Eagle Engineering splits off into three distinct teams for the Vex Robotics competition. While all of the students collaborate and support each other leading up to game time, they compete as separate teams in tournaments. During qualifying rounds, matches are played between alliances of randomly paired teams vying for the highest ranking, while judges interview students and study their machines for a variety of awards. Based on the results of nine matches for each team, top-ranked teams then pick their alliance partners for the elimination rounds.

This is the fourth year for Chaminade hosting a tournament on their West Hills campus. Overnight, volunteers turned the Bob Hope Center into a sports arena featuring competition fields and bleachers, pits for teams to work on their machines and a full livestream broadcast setup. All four of Chaminade’s Vex squads competed, along with 28 other area teams.

The teams rebounded from a rough start to the season as tournaments in Bakersfield and Calabasas presented a slew of technical and strategic challenges. Needing a fresh perspective in the two weeks off, team 1138B founding member Anthony Gruppuso ’13 was brought in to inspire the teams to re-think their approach. Gruppuso’s unique leadership style and a keen eye for strategy sent a bolt of energy through the high school squads, and the results were impressive. All three played to their strengths with greater urgency, with the senior-most squad, 1138A leading the rankings most of the day only to be toppled (literally) by the all-girl 1138G in a late round. Both 1138G and 1138A finished in the top eight (4th and 8th respectively), guaranteeing them a spot in the elimination rounds.

Both Eagle teams were knocked out in the quarterfinals. However, the judges chose 1138-A as the winner of the Excellence Award, given to the team with the best performance consistently across all categories. That guaranteed them a berth at the State Championship where they will compete next March for a chance to move on to the World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky in April.

With the season now in full swing, Eagle Engineers have no time to let up. Both the 1138B and 138G teams, as well as the 83A team from the middle school, are more driven than ever to qualify to compete alongside 1138A at the State Championship. All of the teams are determined to improve and refine their machines as they go into their remaining three events of 2018 in Reseda, Granada Hills, and El Camino College.

Eagle Engineering is a student-centered competitive robotics program with a focus on a professional team approach to design, engineering, programming and business challenges. For more information on Chaminade Robotics and how you can support the team, please contact Head Coach Tommy Smeltzer: tsmeltzer@chaminade.org.

Author Alan Gratz Visits Middle School

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Photo by Wes Stitt

Award-winning author, Alan Gratz, visited Chaminade on October 29 and 30 to speak with middle school students. Gratz is the author of 15 books for young readers including The Brooklyn Nine, Code of Honor, Refuge, and most recently Grenade which debut third on the New York Times bestseller list. During his two-day visit, Gratz shared with students his experiences of being a professional writer, where he gets his ideas, his writing process, character development and how he conducts his research. Gratz also led grade-level workshops and was available for book signings.

Students Come Together for Cancer Cure

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Photo by Brian Kim P’24

Through the apostolic works program, Chaminade students learn to become contributing citizens and work together to make positive change by exemplifying the Marianist charism of service, justice, and peace. On Saturday, October 6, the Chaminade community (consisting of 540 middle school students, parents, and faculty) came together to make a difference by participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night walk at Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills. The event fundraises for lifesaving blood cancer treatments.

Chaminade’s involvement began in 2006 when a student was diagnosed with leukemia. “Because blood cancers have affected many within our Chaminade community, we remain committed to this worthy cause,” says middle school campus ministry director Kate Beskid ’00. “It has become part of our culture, and it’s a great opportunity for families to serve together and support those who are suffering.”

The middle school’s efforts to fight cancer continued through the week with Dig Pink® breast cancer awareness days. Students raised awareness and funds through food sales, spirit dress day, and a lunchtime concert. Additionally, there was a survivor’s story, students vs. teachers volleyball game, and afterschool volleyball games.

 

 

Celebrating Respect Life Month

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“Today, we remember Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals and the environment. He cared for the poor, the sick, and all creation…” said Mrs. Kate Beskid ’00 on Thursday, October 4, kicking off Respect Life Month at Blessing of the Animals on the Chatsworth campus.

 

Eight miles away, on the West Hills campus students, faculty, and staff celebrated Respect Life Month with a special Mass and candlelight procession. “At the deepest level of our being,”  said Bro. Adam Becerra “there is a thriving force that holds power, wisdom, love, and grace. And that thriving force, is God communicating all that God is, so that we may thrive to be who we were created to be.”

As a Catholic, Marianist school, Chaminade’s CME of Service, Justice, and Peace teaches students to promote the dignity of human life from conception to natural death and to respect creation.  Every October, Chaminade Joins the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to celebrate Respect Life month as one human family and put our faith into action.

Throughout October, Chaminade will emphasize Catholic Social Teaching (CST) principles in the classroom to help develop students’ awareness of the contemporary issues in their world that directly relate to:

  • The Dignity of Human Life
  • Call to Family, Community, and Participation
  • Rights and Responsibilities
  • Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
  • The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
  • Solidarity
  • Stewardship (Protecting Creation)

The Chatsworth campus will also hold a Respect Life Mass on Monday, October 15 at 9:15 a.m. in the Fr. Allen Delong Center for Arts and Athletics.

 

The Alumni Challenge is Here

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The Alumni Challenge returns today! Help us reach our goal of 400 alumni donors in 24 hours. If we reach our goal, Ashley and Marc Merrill ’98 will give an additional $10,000 gift #ForChaminade. Gifts of all sizes, designated anywhere on campus, will be counted. How to participate:

  1. Give your gift online at org/alumnichallenge
  2. Spread the word – tell your friends and followers on social media that you gave a gift #ForChaminade