In March, Chaminade inducted 18 students into the school’s first Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) also known as the Hispanic Honor Society. SHH is a nationally recognized honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and Portuguese. Sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, SHH currently has more than 2,900 active chapters worldwide. To be eligible, students must be actively enrolled in a second-year honor level Spanish class or higher. Students also have the opportunity to apply for college scholarships and travel awards.
“I am thrilled to have established Chapter Misión Marianista Española for the Hispanic Honor Society at Chaminade College Preparatory,” says Yesenia Macias, program moderator. “We are in our initial stages, but pleased to have initiated 18 students. As part of the expectations, students will participate in community service projects working with the Spanish speaking community. The overall mission is to raise awareness of the Spanish language and culture throughout both Chaminade and the greater community.”
To learn more about Chaminade’s Hispanic Honor Society contact Yesenia Macias at ymacias@chaminade.org
Jordan Axani has a long track record of bold acts that move and inspire people. His unique background and immense vulnerability have made Jordan a sought-after speaker on mental wellness and leadership. To learn more about Jordan, visit jordanaxani.com.
The Chaminade Wellness Program welcomes Jordan Axani, mental wellness and leadership expert, Monday, April 8, to speak to parents, students and teachers about the biggest problems facing our mental wellness.
During his visit, Jordan will give the following presentations:
Middle School: What’s Your Big Truth? Jordan shares stories and lessons of his struggles with letting his family and friends in on some of his mental health challenges and ways to cope by being open and honest.
High School:What’s Your Big Lie? Jordan focuses on the mental health struggles that affect high school students today and offers coping skills such as acceptance, peer support, and awareness of local mental health resources.
Parent Presentation 5:30 p.m. Reception | 6:00 -7:00 p.m. Presentation Tutor Family Center for the Performing Arts, West Hills campus Jordan talks about the state of mental health in teenagers and discusses how parents can better communicate with their children on this important topic. All parents with a student(s) in grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend. Click here to RSVPfor the parent presentation.
This event is made possible by funds raised from the 2018 Chaminade Gala Benefit and Auction providing Chaminade the tools to expand our vision to develop resilient young men and women who can advocate for themselves and successfully balance school life.
Middle school students making blankets at SHINE Faith Sharing Lunch. Photo by Instagram@campusminnadems
Another successful
Catholic Schools/Marianist Heritage Week has concluded at Chaminade College
Preparatory. Students on
both campuses enjoyed fun-filled, mission-driven activities. Middle schoolers
enjoyed Dr. Seuss-themed special dress days and celebrated the week with an
NJHS Bake Sale, Mix It Up Lunch, Faith Sharing, house picnic, and energetic Faith
Rally.
High school students on a service trip with Habitat for Humanity. Photo by Instagram@nadeactivities
High school students commemorated the week with Random Acts of Kindness Lunch, an Instagram contest, the annual Fr. Chaminade Contest, a service trip with Habitat for Humanity, and an exciting Formation in Faith Rally.
Marianist Educators honored
three fellow employees with the Blessed William Joseph Chaminade Award: Kelly
Benning and Paul Sauter from West Hills, and Oscar Perez from Chatsworth. Each recipient
was nominated by his or her peers for demonstrating one or more of the
Characteristics of Marianist Education: integral, quality education; family
spirit; adaptation and change; formation in faith; and service, justice, and
peace.
Pictured left to right: Luis Guerra, Kelly Benning, Paul Sauter, and Bro. Adam Becerra, fsp. Photo by Pam Liceralde
Kelly Benning is the librarian at the West Hills campus. She makes the library an innovative learning space for discernment, reflection, and academic research. Under her leadership, the library is a gathering place where students are challenged to consider how they can contribute to society with their gifts and talents.
Paul Sauter, biology teacher and science department chair on the West Hills campus, demonstrates compassion, humor, and love in all he does. Paul serves through the Kairos retreat every year and has coached in the past. He is always willing to give of himself to serve his students.
Pictured left to right: Nikki Russ, Oscar Perez, and Fr. Josephraj Rymond, S.M. Photo by Tommy Smeltzer
Oscar Perez is on the facilities staff at the Chatsworth campus. With a positive attitude, Oscar imparts warmth, understanding, and generosity in all he does, from setting up for Masses and rallies, to finding solutions to complicated campus problems. His work is precise, accurate, and done with a smile. Dedicated to helping students, faculty, and staff, Oscar has a hand in everything on the Chatsworth campus.
On Saturday,
February 2, 2019, President Rob Webb and Chaminade College Preparatory will
honor four alumni at the third annual Alumni Hall of Fame.
Mary McDonough ’79 Mary is an actor, activist, and author. She is most well -known for her role as Erin Walton on The Waltons. She has written three books, one memoir, and two novels. She is an advocate for women’s body issues and plastic surgery education and safety regulations. Mary also offers life coaching and workshops to provide tools for body image management to those in the entertainment industry.
Brittany Solis ’13 Brittany was a multi-sport athlete at Chaminade, playing varsity volleyball, soccer and softball. She continued her softball career at the University of Central Florida where she played all four years, starting every game and helping her team to win the American Athletic Conference Championships two times. Brittany is passionate about community service and hopes to work for the Dodgers.
Scott Stuber ’87 Scott is a film producer and currently heads Netflix’s original film department. He has produced over 30 films and 7 television series throughout his career. Scott was the vice chairman of worldwide production for Universal Pictures, producing films like Couples Retreat, The Fast and Furious Series and Role Models. Netflix expects to roll out 55 original films per year under Scott’s guidance and has already seen great success with Bird Box and Roma.
Mathew Troupe ’11 Mathew was an all-around player on the varsity baseball team at Chaminade and later emerged as a talented pitcher. He played baseball for the University of Arizona where he pitched the final innings of the 2012 National Championship clinching the win against South Carolina as a freshman. He continued his career at CSUN as a player/coach. In 2017, Mathew was hired as the pitching coach at Emory University and he is currently the Director of Baseball Operations at the University of San Diego.
On Wednesday, December 5, one hundred Chaminade middle school students donned formal attire, boarded buses in the pouring rain and delivered the joyful sounds of Christmas to an audience of retired nuns who live at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet center on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University. The C-Notes performed this year’s Christmas concert entitled Tidings of Comfort and Joy for scores of sisters gathered in the chapel, singing a variety of sacred and secular pieces in Latin, Swahili, and English. Many of the nuns who were unable to be moved watched the concert on closed-circuit TV in their rooms.
The concert is an annual tradition going back four years but has roots in a Chaminade relationship that dates back much further. Years ago, middle school music and choral director Kathy Rohrs led a string ensemble that would play various events. She tells us, “We had a special Sister of Carondelet that worked at Chaminade for many years named Sr. Noreen Arnold. The Chaminade “String Affair” would go and do concerts each Christmas for Sr. Noreen and all the elderly Sisters of Carondelet. It was our way of bringing joy to others and sharing our God-given talents.” She goes on to say that, “Sadly, Sr. Noreen Arnold passed away in 2011 from cancer. The String Affair group would continue to do concerts for the sisters until they went on to college to study music and film.”
The Chaminade Sting Affair pictured left to right: Noreen Kovelman, Ronnie Mansour ’16, Breanna Kovelman ’14, Alex Mansour ’15 and Kathy Rohrs with Sr. Noreen Arnold in the center. 2011
The C-Notes concerts are a continuation of this tradition, performing in the beautiful Carondelet Center Chapel. Among the attendees at this year’s event were 105-year-old Sister Anne Gertrude Fitzgerald and her “little sister”103-year-old Sister Constance. At the end of concert Sister Regina Clare Salazar took to the mic to thank the students, “When we look at these young people from Chaminade middle school, we are honored and overcome with all that has gone into this production – your staging, your presence, your attention, everything about you is classic, and we are very, very proud of you and very grateful to Sister Noreen Patrice…that you could be with us.”
“I am so proud of Mrs. Rohrs and the 100 C-Notes members who braved the rain and cold to bring some Christmas joy to the nuns,” said middle school principal, Mike Valentine” It is inspiring to me to know that we have so many educators and students who are willing to give of themselves for others.”
Sister Sharon Margaret Ninteman, CSJ Community Life Coordinator, thanked the C-Notes for sharing their talents and bringing comfort and joy to the sisters. “They look forward to it every year and continue to talk about it the rest of the week,” says Sr. Ninteman. “The students, under Kathy’s direction, provided an excellent performance …and are a real testimony to the values you teach at Chaminade…to God’s glory!”
In March, Chaminade inducted 18 students into the school’s first Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) also known as the Hispanic Honor Society. SHH is a nationally recognized honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and Portuguese. Sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, SHH currently has more than 2,900 active chapters worldwide. To be eligible, students must be actively enrolled in a second-year honor level Spanish class or higher. Students also have the opportunity to apply for college scholarships and travel awards.
