January 2007 Volume 13, Issue 6

BELLARMINE FAMILYPublished by The Bellarmine Mothers’ GuildAvailable online at: http://activities.bcp.org/Mothers_guild NEWS

Chris Meyercord, a Bellarmine graduate of 1988, is a prime example of how a great education prepares you for life’s opportunities. Mr. Meyercord majored in English at Stanford University and returned to Bellarmine four years later. He worked in the Admissions department for six years, followed by the position of interim assistant principal. Next, he was named assistant principal for technology and charged with the emerging and important role that technology plays in the school. Today, Mr. Meyercord, as assistant principal, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Bellarmine.When Mr. Meyercord returned to Bellarmine in 1992, the staff had computers, and e-mail soon followed. Infrastructure was one of the major challenges to expanding the use of technology and capturing its potential in the classroom. Bellarmine was fortunate to have a parent, Bob Benoit, who offered his considerable talents in wiring a network. At the

same time, a benefactor stepped forward to bestow a generous gift for technology. As a result, Bellarmine had an infrastructure equivalent to the best R & D labs in the valley. In the summer of 2000, an LCD projector was installed in every classroom and staff education and training continued. Bellarmine’s delivery of education changed in a few short years - and the school is looked upon as a leader in using technology for education.

Bellarmine’s first web presence began in 1995, as a result of some very smart, ambitious students. Mr. Meyercord realized the power of the web site and the need to better manage it. The school’s web site, www.bcp.org, as we know today, was first online in 2000 and updated in 2003. Bellarmine will introduce a redesigned web site in early 2007. Students will be able to submit admission applications online, there will be content geared for both an external and internal community, and the number of related web sites will be reduced, making navigation faster and easier.As Mr. Meyercord is the first line in faculty recruitment, he is given the

opportunity to present Bellarmine to some of the finest teaching candidates in our area. Asked what he tells them he is most proud of and he mentions the improvement in communication at Bellarmine, partly brought about by the Daily Connection, delivered to parents’ e-mail boxes, and the Bellarmine web site. Mr. Meyercord has an in-depth perspective of recent Bellarmine history. He believes that the school is much better since his days as a student due to wider elective and AP offerings, the big improvement in science education that came about as a result of the Carney Science Center, and the increased interest and offerings in fine arts. Also, co-curricular activities have vastly expanded, truly offering something for every student. He notes that the implementation of Kairos retreats in 1990-91 signaled a shift in returning to Ignatian spirituality, eventually followed by expanding the service requirement and the advent of Immersion programs in 1993.Mr. Meyercord’s work is guided by the Ignatian Principle of Cura Personalis (care of the individual). He wants to make sure students and parents know the Bellarmine community is concerned about them and will try to serve them, especially if a student struggles with academic or other issues.

A Conversation with Chris Meyercord Assistant Principal of Bellarmine

Mr. Chris Meyercord

Chris Meyercord has an in-depth perspective of recent Bellarmine history. He believes that the school is much better since his days as a student ...

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Mother and Son Event

Sundown at the

Bell CorralSunday

January 215 - 8 p.m.

Liccardo Center

• Delicious Food• Line dancing with

instruction - back by popular demand!

• Raffle Prizes

• Grand Prizes• Professional picture

opportunity• Bell Corral Souvenirs

• And most importantly, the priceless company of your son(s).

BMG Mother and Son Event January 21 Please reserve by January 15Enclosed check #________ for _______person(s) @ $25 each.

Total enclosed $_________

Mother’s Name __________________________________________

Son’s Name______________________________ Class Year_______

Son’s Name______________________________ Class Year_______

Son’s Name______________________________ Class Year_______

Contact Information:

E-mail __________________ Phone: _________________________

Register Online! Go to www.bcp.org Click Parents Click Mothers’ Guild Click Events

Or mail this form with a check payable to:

Bellarmine College Preparatory BMG Reservations 960 W. Hedding Street San Jose, California 951�6

The Bellarmine Mothers’ Guild invites you to an exciting evening of food, fun, and entertainment.

Don’t miss this popular event that draws over 500 moms and sons. It sells out quickly!

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Bellarmine Volunteers for Sacred Heart Nativity Schools

Wednesday March 28, 20078:�0 a.m.- � p.m.

El Retiro Jesuit Center of Los Altos

Facilitator: Fr. Kevin Dilworth, S.J.

Mass Celebrant: Fr. Paul Sheridan, S.J.

“Finding God in All Things”

Womens’ Retreat - Save the Date

Look for participation forms in the February newsletter

On Saturday, December �, the Bellarmine Community hosted a

Christmas party for the students from Sacred Heart Nativity School (SHNS) of San Jose and Our Lady of Grace Nativity School for Girls. The party

was an example of the Bellarmine community working together to make the day special for its 87 guests. After fun playing games organized by Bellarmine students, guests enjoyed a lunch served by Bellarmine moms. Then Santa made an appearance and each student received a gift donated by the Bellarmine Alumni Council.

Nativity Schools are the Jesuit’s most recent educational effort , targeting to middle school students in lower income urban areas. SHNS is the tenth Nativity school sponsored by the Jesuits and is among 40 schools that have adopted the model across the nation. The San Jose school is a col-laboration between the Jesuits, Sacred Heart Parish of San Jose and the San Jose Diocese.

The boys who attend the SHNS arrive at 7:�0 a.m. for breakfast, provided

by Martha’s Kitchen next door. The school day runs from 8 a.m. to � p.m. and includes lunch. After a half-hour break, volunteers from Santa Clara University and local Catholic high schools lead the boys in sports and other activities from �:�0 to 5 p.m. Volunteers also assist them during a study period from 5 to 6 p.m. Then the boys go home to have dinner with their families.

The students also spend two Saturdays a month at school, receiving extra instruction in math and reading and going on field trips, attend five weeks of summer school at Bellarmine, and spend an additional two weeks in the summer at a rural camp near Auburn, California. While most schools are required to offer 180 days of school a year; SHNS will offer ��5 school days.

This year Our Lady of Grace Nativity School for Girls, a sister pro-gram, opened with �5 6th grade girls. If you would like to learn more about Nativity schools please visit their web site at www.shnativity.org/

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Bellarmine’s 12th Annual Solidarity Dinner

Ifyouhavecomeheretohelpme,youarewastingyourtime...butifyouhavecomebecauseyourliberationisboundupwithmine,thenletusworktogether.-Lillia Watson, indigenous aborigine

Since our first trip to El Salvador in 199�, Bellarm-

ine delegations have learned this powerful lesson through their immersion trips into the Third World, but especially in El Salvador. These powerful words capture an irony that is very instructive. The lesson is that we in the First World need the poor to reach their potential as loving, com-passionate, and spiritual human beings. It is seeing that the poor are us, seeing that we, and they, are one, all made in the image of God!

The Solidarity Dinner is a direct result of our continuing relationship

with our brothers and sisters in Agua Escondida, our sister community. The funds from this dinner have built a kindergarten school building for about �0 children who would otherwise not have the opportunity for an education. The funds also provide a full time teacher, daily snacks and the majority

of schools supplies that they need for the term.

Please join us at the annual Solidarity Dinner. We will celebrate our rela-tionship with our sister community, Agua Escondida. By your support and presence, you can continue this expression of solidarity and learn more

about the importance of the immersion program experience.

Join us for a simple meal of beans and rice. All do-nations go to support our projects in Agua Escondi-da. If you cannot join us, please consider making

a donation to our sister community.

The cost is $8 per individual and $�8

for a family of four or more. For questions contact Larry Lauro

408-5�7-9�88, llauro@bcp.org

In peace, Larry Lauro Immersion Coordinator

Thursday, February 16-8 p.m., Liccardo Center

Solidarity Dinner February 1Enclosed check #________ for _______person(s) @ $8 or $28 per family of four or more

Total enclosed $_________ Make checks payable to: Bellarmine College Preparatory

Name _________________________________________ (to appear on name tag)

Contact Information: E-mail_________________________________

Phone Day_____________________________

Phone Evening __________________________

Please RSVP by January 25

Register Online!Go to www.bcp.orgClick ParentsClick Mothers Guild Click Events

Or Print and mail this form to:Bellarmine College PreparatoryBMG Reservations960 W. Hedding StreetSan Jose, California 951�6

ThisiswhattheLordrequiresofyou.Toactjustly,toloveten-derly,andtowalkhumblywithyourGod. -Micah 6-8

El Salvador Immersion Trip ’06

5

Dads’ Club Looks to 2007

The 31st Annual Golden Bell Auction

March 17, 2007

Youwon’twanttomissthisthrillingevent!

Attention All Moms

Fashion Show �007 is gearing up. Committees are being formed now and you are invited to join the fun. Call Debbie Rossetto today at 510-656-0957 or e-mail her at drossetto@norcalhome.com and find out what it’s all about. Be a part of the tradition. Everyone is welcome.

The new year is off and running. I hope all is well with you and your families. As the year races by, the Dads’ Club is keeping pace. Many of the new members are involved in the remaining activities of this year and already planning for next year’s activities.

The Bell Wars Games will be held on February 8 and there should be great participation of sons and dads.

On March 1, the Dads’ Club will again co-host the KBell track meet at Los Gatos High School. This is the largest one-day track meet west of the Mississippi River with over �,500 athletes participating.

The Family Golf Tournament will be held earlier this year at a new location. It will be held at Boulder Ridge on Monday, March 19, with at 9:00 a.m. tee off. It is an in-service day at Bellarmine, so the boys will

not have a school conflict. Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:00 a.m.

New this year will be a Dads’ Club retreat for dads only. Bob Couch has announced that the one-day retreat will be on April �1 at Villa Holy Names. The cost will be around $50 per dad. There will be more info on this and other events in future newsletters.

The Volunteer Committee has of-fered to work with Chris Meyercord to introduce a Dads’ Club web site on the redesigned Bellarmine web Site.

Other events coming up are the very popular Grandparents’ Day on April 1, �007 and the Spring Dads’ Club General Meeting on April �0 where the Class of �011 and their dads will attend their first official function together. We will also be in-

viting all Dads’ Club past presidents to this meeting for the first time.

One of the more meaningful events that the dads participate in is the Immersion trip to Mexico. This trip will occur at Easter break in April. Dads and sons always come back from this trip with memories that will last them a lifetime and they always have a very clear picture of how fortunate they are.

I feel fortunate to have this opportu-nity to work with all these dads on so many wonderful projects around the Bellarmine Community.

Thanks and GO BELLS!

Jim Alves

From the Dads’ Club President, Jim Alves

Please contact Mrs. Rouchand Bush at 408-5�7-9�6� or rbush@bcp.org if you are able to donate goods, services or volunteer your time. More information will come in future newsletters, so stay tuned.

6

Here’s the chance for Dads and Sons to do something that you BOTH will enjoy. Dad and son teams compete for prizes in various fun events from golf to blackjack. So start practicing your putting skills, blackjack play and dart shooting accuracy - just to name a few of the many fun activities that await all Bell dads and sons.

Entry fee is $40 per dad and son team and $10 for each additional son. The fee includes dinner and one Bell Wars T-shirt.Students, please join us even if dad can’t make it. If the entry fee is a hardship, we can offer assistance.For additional information or financial assistance, callRon Hallagan at 408-�68-8��9 or Bill Phipps at 408- �95-80��.

Guaranteedtobeafunnightforeveryone!

Dads’ Club BELL WARS XVI

Bell Wars XVI February 8Father's name _______________________________________________

Son's name _________________________________________________

Frosh Soph Junior Senior

Son's name _________________________________________________

Frosh Soph Junior Senior

Phone: Day __________________ Evening ______________________

Shirt size: _______ , I'd also like to order _______ extra T-shirt(s) at $10

each, in the following size(s): ___________________________________

Total amount enclosed: _______ ($40 Entry fee per two person team, $10

each additonal son, $10 per shirt)

Hurry! Bell Wars XVI is

limited to the first 200 teams to sign up.

Make checks payable to:Bellarmine College Preparatory

Print and mail this form to:Bellarmine College Preparatory

c/o Bell Wars 960 W. Hedding Street

San Jose, California 951�6

The Tradition Continues

Thursday, February 8 5:30-9:30 p.m.

GetReadyDadsandSons...

This year’s tournament has changed a little. It is earlier in the year; it is on a day when the boys are not in school; it is in the morning and ...itisatanewcourse.We will play at Boulder Ridge, the newest and finest golf course in Silicon Valley.Located high above the Santa Clara Valley in San Jose, Boulder Ridge offers

dramatic vistas overlooking Silicon Valley and spectacular views of the Santa Cruz mountains. Touted by raters from Golf Week Magazine as the best course in the area, Boulder Ridge fea-tures lush fairways, dramatic bunkering and bent-grass greens. Nothing compares. Every round at Boulder Ridge is a mystical golf experience.

Save the Date! Monday, March 19 (school holiday) Participation forms will be in the February newsletter and are now available on the Daily Connection web site.

Family Golf Tournament

Moms can volunteer to help by signing up at www.bcp.org/ Mothers_Guild/volunteer.htm

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Mothers’ Guild General Meeting and Dinner

As parents, coaches, teachers, and co-workers, we are always looking for ways to encourage and have a positive impact on others’ lives. Come be inspired by Dr. Hal Urban’s presentation,“Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm and Cel-ebrate Life.” Dr. Urban, the au-thor of Life’s Greatest Lessons, and Positive Words, Powerful Results, will share simple and immediate ways that we can use language to inspire, uplift and change lives.As a parent, and a former teacher, who taught at the high school level and also at the University of San Francisco, he understands

first hand the impact words have on people. He is a well know leader in the Character Educa-tion movement and has been the keynote speaker at many national conferences.Please join us for a reception, dinner, and a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Hal Urban. The cost of the event is $�0 per person.

Special Guest Speaker:

Dr. Hal Urban

“Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm and

Celebrate Life.”

Dr. Urban is an educator and the author of Life’s Greatest Lessons and Positive Words,

Powerful Results

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” -Mother Teresa

Wednesday February �8 6 - 9 p.m. Liccardo Center

Mothers’ Guild Dinner Meeting February �8Enclosed check #________ for _______person(s) @ $20 each.

Total enclosed $_________

Name __________________________(to appear on name tag)

Son Class of ____�007____�008 ____�009 ____�010 other ______

Name __________________________(to appear on name tag)

Son Class of ____�007 ____�008 ____�009 _____�010 other ______

Contact Information: Email______________________________Phone: Day Evening______________

_________# Vegetarian meal desired

Register Online! Go to www.bcp.org Click Parents Click Mothers’ Guild Click Events

Or mail this form with a check payable to:

Bellarmine College Preparatory c/o BMG Reservations 960 W. Hedding Street San Jose, California 951�6

Calendar of Events

Bellarmine College PreparatoryMothers’ Guild960 W. Hedding StreetSan Jose, CA 951�6

AddressServiceRequested

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSan Jose, CA

Permit No. 2290

BELLARMINE FAMILY NEWS

8 Classes resume

9 Mothers’ Guild Board Meeting Liccardo 6 pm

15 School Holiday

�1 Mother and Son Event Liccardo 5- 8 pm

1 Solidarity Dinner Liccardo 6-8 pm

8 Dads’ Club Bell Wars Liccardo 5:�0 pm

19-�� Winter Break

�8 Mothers’ Guild General Mtg and Dinner Liccardo 6-9 pm

6 Mothers’ Guild Board Meeting Liccardo 6 pm

10 KBell track meet Los Gatos HS

17 Golden Bell Auction Liccardo

19 Classes do not meet

19 Dads’ Club Golf Tournament Boulder Ridge 7 am

�8 Women’s Retreat El Retiro 8:�0 am- � pm

January

February

March