MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL

The Lumenldquoshining the light on coming eventsrdquo

Mater Dei High School in the Diocese of Orange mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all believes every person as a child of God regardless of race condition or age has equal dignity and an inalienable right to an education Therefore no qualified student will be denied admission to this school on the basis of sex race color or national origin

November 2010 Parent Newsletter Vol XXV No 3

GUIDANCE COLUMN

DATES TO REMEMBERNov 5 Deadline to register for the December 11

ACT Assessment Plus Writing Register at wwwactstudentorg

Nov 5 Deadline to register for the December 4 SAT Reasoning and the SAT Subject Tests Register at wwwcollegeboardcom

Nov 6 SAT Reasoning and the SAT Subject Tests at Mater Dei - 800 AM to 100 PM

SAT Subject Language Tests with Listening are available at the November test date ONLY in the following languages Chinese French German Japanese Korean and Spanish

Nov 16 Junior ParentStudent Night LeVecke Center at 700 PM

Nov 30 AP Exam Fee Deadline Students enrolled in an AP class must pay $95 towards each AP class exam taken in May of 2011

Please give your checks to Ms Wells in the Guidance amp Counseling office Checks should be made payable to Mater Dei High School For questions or concerns email jwellsmaterdeiorg

The Common Application This application is used by hundreds of colleges and universities even Harvard accepts it You can obtain a common application at the following website wwwcommonapporg

College Applications for California Public Universities The 23 California State Universities (CSUrsquos) including Long Beach San Diego Fullerton San Luis Obispo etc request all seniors to apply online at wwwcsumentoredu October 1 through November 30

The 9 University of California (UC) campuses also request seniors to apply online at wwwuniversityofcaliforniaedu November 1 through November 30 Seniors self-report grades using their unofficial transcript Seniors do not send an official transcript to the UC campuses at this time

Catholic Universities For more information visit the website wwwcatholiccollegesonlineorg and for the Jesuit Universities wwwajcunetedu

For more information visit wwwmaterdeiorgguidance contact Ms Wells Guidance Secretary at (714) 850-9565 or at jwellsmaterdeiorg

HOMECOMING WEEKMon 111 - Alumni Shadow Day

Tue 112 - Homecoming Formal Dance Tickets On Sale - Activities Office

Wed 113 - Homecoming Carnival

Thu 114 - Homecoming Showcase Rally

Fri 115 - Alumni Pre-Game Reception Santa Ana Bowl 630 PM

Fri 115 - MD vs JSerra Santa Ana Bowl 730 PM

Fri 115 - Return To The Grotto Immediately Following Game

Fri 116 - Alumni Post-Game Reception LeVecke Center 1030 PM

Sun 117 - Alumni Homecoming Mass Mater Dei Chapel 1000 AM

Sun 117 - Homecoming Dance Meruelo Athletic Center 800 PM

For more information contact Kathleen Kelly lsquo94 Director of Alumni Relations at (714) 850-9536 or kkellymaterdeiorg or visit wwwmonarchalumniorg

Christmas at the Corner

Sunday December 5 2010500 PM - GrottoAdmission is free

Performances by Mater Dei Band Color Guard Choir Hand Bells

Dance and Theatre Living Nativity - Christmas Carols

Strolling Dickens Carolers - Holiday Boutique - Cookie Bar - Hot Cocoa

Toy Drive - Benefitting Monarchs 4 Marines Please bring new unwrapped toys

For more information contact Karen Pescetti in Mater Deirsquos Performing Arts Department at

(714) 957-3784 or kpescettimaterdeiorgor at wwwmaterdeiorgchristmas

VISIT DAY 2010 Open to 7th and 8th grade studentsThursday November 11 2010 900 AM ndash 1130 AM (Check-in begins at 830 AM in the Meruelo Athletic Center)

Donrsquot miss this important opportunity to visit the Mater Dei campus for a very special program featuring MD students Program highlights include

Speaking Topics Performances By Campus Tours By Academics Mater Dei Band Mater Dei Students Activities Dance Team Athletics Pep Squad Campus Ministry Chamber Singers Student Life Theatre ArtsThe Arts

All students must be accompanied by a parent or adult chaperone For

more information and to RSVP visit wwwmaterdeiorgvisitday

Muth Family Learning CenterSharpening Your Study Skills

Continuing on the theme of study skills students describe below what works best for them Please keep in mind that study habits are very personal and students need to try and discover what works best

Some study tipsskills from students canvassed

bull Meet with their classroom teacher regularly to clear up confusions clarify assignment questions or formats and seek encouragement and feedback Teachers should be consulted regularly if a student is receiving tutorial services for direction This is also a suggestion from recent MDHS alums

bull Work daily with their Edline and email teachers if they have a question There is no excuse for not knowing what is due or what is expected If there is a problem with Edline check with teachers Academic Counselors andor the Learning Center for assistance

bull Use their planner Students need to copy down the assignments that ALL classrooms post on the classroom whiteboard as well as appointments to meet with a teacher and where they plan to study

bull Create a TO DO list on a 35 card that can be kept in a pocket or purse - JUST DO IT everyday

bull Create a CURRENT folder for every class These folders are not in place of a binder but rather a way to keep current chapter handouts notes study guides and homework in one place during the course of unit andor genre of work At the end of the unit transfer the old work to the binder and free up the folder again for current work

bull Copying chapter sections can help lessen bag weight homeschool Donrsquot forget to highlight use sticky notes andor flashcards Check the text publisher online to see if there are PDFrsquos of your texts as well

I want to give credit to a freshman boy (JRC) who created a ldquoself-talkrdquo phrase ldquoSNAP TO AND JUST DO ITrdquo Finally from Americarsquos Next Top Model Program on TV ldquoWork through your pain (or discomfort zone)rdquo

The end product is worth it Students will be proud that they surmounted challenges This is a form of winning Invest in your personal growth come discover all that the Muth Family Learning Center has to offer you For more info please call (714) 641-3694 or email Marilyn Wilson at mwilsonmaterdeiorg

Marilyn Wilson DirectorLearning SpecialistJoAnn McCune TeacherReading Specialist

The Lumen is a publication of Mater Dei High Schoollsquos Office of Advancement amp Alumni Relations For front page advertisement space (school events only) please contact Lisa Mendiaz lsquo86 Director of Special Events amp Publications at lmendiazmaterdeiorg or (714) 850-9527

Mater Dei theatre events 20102011All dates amp times subject to change visit wwwmaterdeiorgtheatre for updates

Fall PlayBlithe Spiritby Noel CowardPerformances November 18 20 amp 21Thur amp Sat 730 PM Sun 200 PMMonarch Pavilion (aka Old Gym)

Theatre Clubs amp Events Theatre Arts Club - Meetings 1st Thursday each month Improv Comedy Club - Practice Tuesdays - Auditions in February Performs at various events throughout the year all year Big Charity Shows 1026 128 53

For ticket information and donations ndash contact Mr Williams at pwilliamsmaterdeiorg

Want to reduce your tuition Have shopping to do or gifts to buy Herersquos how it works Each time you purchase Scrip a cash rebate is generated from the participating retailer 50 of the rebate goes toward our need-based financial aid program The other 50 can be directed toward your Mater Dei studentrsquos tuition account or as a donation to a Mater Dei program club or sport

S C R I P We now offer the convenience of ordering Scrip (Gift Cards) from the comfort of your home and the ability to pay for your order online Log on and purchase your Scrip today Major retailers grocers gas stations restaurants and AMEX are available

Visit wwwshopwithscripcom and click ldquomy accountrdquo to register Enter the Mater Dei High School enrollment code D69F4B264474 Orders placed each week by Monday at 8 am will be ready for pick-up by Friday afternoon Orders placed online after Monday will be available the Friday of the following week Pick up in the Mater Dei Main Office

Please invite friends and family members to participate for your studentrsquos benefit For additional information please visit the Main Office or send an email to scripmaterdeiorg

FootballCross CountryGirls Golf

Girls TennisGirls VolleyballBoys Water Polo

WEB CALENDAR LINKSSchool Calendar

SPORTS SCHEDULE LINKS

Students of the MonthNatalie Ross November Student of the Month is at the top of her game in the classroom on the trail and in her community She has consistently carried a GPA of 42 throughout her high school career She has taken Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II Honors Spanish II Honors Precalculus Honors Spanish III AP US History AP English IV AP Calculus AB AP US Government and AP Studio Art 2D

Through athletics ASB and clubs Natalie has been extremely involved in campus life She is a four-year member of the Mater Dei cross country team She is also a four-year member of Renaissance California Scholarship Association National Arts Honor Society serving as President this year and Associated Student Body She is a three-year member of National Honor Society two-year member of the Renaissance Commission and is serving on the Liturgical Leadership Council this year

A wonderful aspect of Mater Dei life is the volunteer spirit and contributions to our community Each student is required to accomplish 80 Christian service hours by their senior year Natalie has achieved 185 service hours to date Through Sts Simon amp Jude Parish she has worked Vacation Bible Study as a Renaissance Commissioner she particpated in the Lions Share and KidWorks movie night Natalie also took part in Mater Deirsquos Summer Camp for KidWorks and Urban Compass ldquoI really enjoyed working with all of the kids watching them come out of their shells and seeing the smiles on their faces each morning as they were ready for a fun-filled day of activitiesrdquo

Natalie is considering great universities with USC USD and Santa Clara as her favored schools She has already been accepted to UCSB Natalie is plans to major in business and finance

Nataliersquos favorite MD memory is ldquoBeing a member of the Mater Dei Cross Country team is where I was able to meet some of my closest friends We have all stuck with it for all four years and the memories we have made during training runs and workouts are pricelessrdquo Reflecting back on her Mater Dei experience Natalie had this to say ldquoBeing able to attend MDHS has been the greatest blessing Mater Dei opens various doors for each individual student They surround you with a loving faith-filled community that helps shape the lives of each and every studentrdquo

Natalie lives in Huntington Beach with her parents Anthony and Angela her brother Nick lsquo08 and Alyssa lsquo14 The Ross family attends Sts Simon and Jude parish

Natalie Ross

Kevin Fortier November Student of the Month is an acomplished scholar who excels in the classroom and has maintained a 44 GPA while at Mater Dei

He is a National Merit Commended Student ranking him in the top 1 of the country based on his SAT scores

He has taken Honors Spanish I II III AP Spanish Language Honors English III AP English IV Honors Algebra II Honors Pre-Calculus AP Calculus Honors Biology Honors Chemistry AP Physics AP US History and AP Government

Kevin participated in the Monarch Pageantry Corps as a freshman He is a three-year member of the Academic Decathlon team This nationwide program gives students an opportunity to compete in 10 different academic areas mathematics science language and literature economics social science fine arts essay speech interview and super quiz Nine students are selected to compete as a team each February Kevin is member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Association

Community involvement is very important to Kevin He has volunteered his time with the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana and the Oak Canyon Nature Center (OCNC) Summer Camp the latter being his favorite He states ldquoI have been with the OCNC since I was three years old as a camper and now I am one of the volunteersrdquo He has accumulated over 200 service hours since freshman year

When he has free time in his schedule Kevin enjoys playing video games

College considerations are Stanford University Claremont McKenna College Colorado College Pomona College and UC Irvine and Kevin plans to major in neuroscience or psychology

ldquoWinning three individual medals in my first Academic Decathalon competitionrdquo is Kevinrsquos favorite Mater Dei memory Reflecting back on his experience at Mater Dei Kevin had this to say ldquoMy time at Mater Dei has been the best four years of my life To me Mater Dei is more than just a school itrsquos a family There were always obstacles to overcome but the Mater Dei community is always a guiding light for everyonerdquo

Kevin lives in Anaheim with his parents Dan amp Deidre Fortier and 11 year old sister Kara (a future Monarch)

Kevin Fortier

Mater Dei house flagsShow your Monarch pride with our 2-sided flag perfect for home tailgates and gift giving Proceeds benefit the Alumni Heritage Fund

Get your flag by clicking here

Thanksgiving OutreachFood DriveNovember 15-22 2010

Grocery CertificatesPeanut Butter JellyCanned TunaBreakfast CerealRice

Canned Jalapeno ChilesBags of Beans Lentils Rice(no canned beans please)Baby FoodMacaroni and Cheese

Oil Flour SugarSoupsPastaTomato Sauce

Mater Dei is supporting SPIN (Serving People In Need) KidWorks and Santa Ana parishes

We will be collecting

Earn Spirit PointsTen spirit points will be earned for each $10 grocery certificate or a brown grocery bag filled with any of the above Must be delivered to Campus Ministry by the November 22 deadline

Mater Dei house flagsShow your Monarch pride with our 2-sided flag perfect for home tailgates and gift giving Proceeds benefit the Alumni Heritage Fund

Get your flag by clicking here

Thanksgiving OutreachFood DriveNovember 15-22 2010

Grocery CertificatesPeanut Butter JellyCanned TunaBreakfast CerealRice

Canned Jalapeno ChilesBags of Beans Lentils Rice(no canned beans please)Baby FoodMacaroni and Cheese

Oil Flour SugarSoupsPastaTomato Sauce

Mater Dei is supporting SPIN (Serving People In Need) KidWorks and Santa Ana parishes

We will be collecting

Earn Spirit PointsTen spirit points will be earned for each $10 grocery certificate or a brown grocery bag filled with any of the above Must be delivered to Campus Ministry by the November 22 deadline

An unbelievable night of Christmas magic A Mater Dei family traditi on

For ti ckets and more informati on please contact Mr Scott Melvin Choral Director at smelvinmaterdeiorg or call (714) 850-9559

An unbelievable night of Christmas magic A Mater Dei family tradition

For tickets and more information please contact Mr Scott Melvin Choral Director at

smelvinmaterdeiorg or call (714) 850-9559