Dear Parents,
Christmas is coming. If we take a moment
to think about it, Christmas is the reason for being in
our Christian Community. We pray that the message
of the gift that the birth of our Lord at Christmas, the
time that God became one of us, continues to live in
your life throughout the year 2015. May the seniors
find these final months toward May 23, 2015 to be
blessed and faith filled.
In our Catholic Church we prepare for
Christmas starting with the season of Advent and the
new liturgical year. During this special season we take
time to renew our relationship with God. We will give
the students the opportunity to prepare their hearts
with a reconciliation service, scheduled for December
10th.
On Wednesday December 3 at 7 pm in
the Athletic Center, Notre Dame Professor Dr. Brian
Collier will speak on “Save our Schools, Save our
Country, and Save Your Family.” All parents, friends
and students are invited. This will be a humorous
history based lecture which promises to send everyone
home with ideas about how to change their own family
structure. The event is part of the Hesburgh Lecture
Program and is sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of
Los Angeles.
Monday December 8th will be the Damien’s
Tree Lighting ceremony in the quad at 6:30 pm. Come
out to enjoy some early Christmas season celebration
in music and fellowship. This is a tri-school event with
Pomona Catholic and St. Lucy’s.
We will also celebrate the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception on Monday December 8th
with a Student Body Mass during the school day.
Friday December 12th the ASB is
sponsoring their “Ugly Christmas Sweater Dance.”
PrinciPal’s Message
There will be movies, a photo booth, couple and group
pictures, cookies, popcorn hot chocolate and a candy
bar. It will be held in the Activities Center.
Monday December 15 at 7 pm in the Activity
Center Damien and St. Lucy’s High Schools will co-
sponsor a presentation called “Recruiting Realities.”
The intent is to help student-athletes, parents, and
coaches understand the college recruiting process.
Nationally renowned coach, speaker, and author,
Jack Renkens will be the guest presenter. Current and
potential student-athletes, parents, and coaches are
invited.
For your planning during this busy season,
on Wednesday December 17 at 7 pm in the Activity
Center an information night about the International
Baccalaureate Programme will be held. The presenter,
Louis Marchesano, is an experienced IB teacher
who will give an informational evening for parents
and prospective IB students who want to know more
about the IB Programme; This especially significant
for members of the Class of 2018 who could be the
first students taking the program at Damien, pending
our authorization.
Final exams for the first semester will take
place December 16-19 according to the published
schedule. We remind parents that tutoring continues
to be available regularly after school. We have been
making every effort to keep the library open late
Monday-Thursday to accommodate those waiting
for rides, etc. who need a quiet (and warm) place to
study. Unfortunately eighteen weeks’ worth of material
cannot be grasped overnight. It takes a conscientious
effort over the full term for the greatest success.
Just as we prepare for the final semester
for the seniors of 2015, we are making final
preparations for the entering Class of 2019. If you are
Damien High SchoolPa r e n t ne w s l e t t e r
DeceMber 2014
2280 Damien Avenue • La Verne, CA 91750 • 909-596-1946
aware of any candidates for Damien High School in
the fall, there is a special test-taking seminar offered
on Saturday December 13th in preparation for the
Placement Exam on Saturday January 24th. Detail
information is available on the school web site under
the “Prospective Students” tab. We generally entertain
about 330 applicants for an entering class of 260 in
the fall.
For our seniors there are no more
important days than the four days spent on a Kairos
retreat. The next Kairos will take place from January
26th through 29th. There are still openings for the
March (2-5) retreat as well. For Juniors we will offer an
Emmaus Retreat in January (13-14) and March (17-
18). The Emmaus retreats build community and are
an outstanding preparation for the Kairos experience.
So that you can plan to attend, on Tuesday,
January 20 at 7pm in the Activity Center Damien High
School will present The Protectors Program. A group
experienced in addressing issues related to bullying
will be on campus to offer a program for Damien. We
invite parents interested in the topic and supporting
our efforts to eradicate bullying on our campus to the
evening program. Students will have a presentation
during the school day.
We are reminded, when we are thankful,
we give back. We are continuing awareness of the
many on-going service opportunities that are available
to Damien students. Please continue to encourage
your students to become involved in one or more of
the many school sponsored activities this time of the
year. What we want for our students is to experience
the personal fulfillment that comes with looking into
the eyes of those whom they serve.
All Damien clubs are also asked to give
back to the local community in service. Some do CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Damien High School • Parent newsletter De c e M b e r 2014
FroM the counseling DePartMent
ALL STUDENTS: FINAL EXAMS ARE ALMOST UPON US
The Department would like to remind ALL families of the importance of preparing well for the upcoming First Semester Final Examinations. Remember that semester grades become permanent on the students’ academic history.
FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORES:• Instructors will be distributing their Final
Exam Study Guides by next Monday (12/8/14). We encourage all students to take advantage of these study tools in order to make sure they are as prepared as they can be.
• Also, there will be a freshman and sophomore Final Exam Study Hall held Thursday, 12/11, in the Activity Center from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. Teachers from ALL academic departments will be on hand for help and review. Don’t miss this chance.
SENIORS: Your final exams are especially important. Colleges expect you to continue your academic achievement right through graduation. There’s no greater bit of urban legend “out there” than to think you can “take it easy” during your final year.
caroling at convalescent homes at Christmas; others
seek out club-related activities as part of their local
program. When looked at the total picture of service,
Damien students permeate the Pomona Valley giving
back to the community in which we live. We observe
this and we are most grateful for their efforts and for
your support as parents.
On another note, it is useful to mention
that we are now entering the winter season of sport
during which we seemingly have so many contests
with basketball and soccer and wrestling. Ice Hockey
continues its season as well. There are Damien athletic
contests to watch nearly every day of the week except
Sunday. We congratulate our fall sports coaches and
players and pray for continued success in the quest
for excellence this winter season. We are grateful. We
share our talents.
Have a wonderful celebration of the
greatest service and miracle of all, the birth of Jesus.
God Bless,Merritt Hemenway, Ph.D.Principal
calenDarDeceMber:5-9 Winter Play - Our Town
8 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
10 8th Grade Open House
10 Advent Reconciliation
12 ASB Ugly Sweater Dance
15 Athletic Recruiting Presentation
16 Period 4 Final Exam
17 Periods 1 & 2 Final Exams
18 Periods 3 & 5 Final Exams
19 Periods 6 & 7 Final Exams
20-Jan 4 Christmas Vacation
January:13-14 Emmaus Retreat
19 MLK Jr. Day - No School
26-29 Kairos Retreat
SENIORS - LETTERS OF REC.
If your college application (generally for pri-vate colleges) requires them, you should have requested ALL letters of recommenda-tion both from the faculty and from Mr. Coray (for the School Report or Counselor Evalu-ation) by this time. In fact, the due date for requesting these items was 11/1/14. (Please see pp. 1, 6, and7 in the College Hand-book.) If you still need to talk to teachers or to Mr. Coray, you need to have done that by Friday, December 5th at the LATEST. After December 5th, all bets are off.
FRESHMAN ACADEMIC PLANNING NIGHTS- FEBRUARY 2 & 5
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE CONTINUED:
SENIORS: COMMON APPLICATION REMINDER
From p. 12 of the Processing College Appli-cations Handbook:• If you apply to a Common App School
you must use the Common App. This is the only means by which Damien will send your transcript, school profile, secondary school report, and teacher recommendations to the college. There are no exceptions.
If you apply to a Common App school by a process other than the Common App, we will require you to re-submit your application us-ing the Common App; so please make sure to check carefully whether the colleges to which you are submitting an application use the Common App.
We are looking forward to, the Department’s Freshman Academic Planning Nights either on Monday evening, February 2, or on Thurs-day evening, February 5. Both evenings’ pre-sentations will be held in the Activity Center from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. We host identical/re-peated events so students and parents can choose the option best fitting their schedules and allow us to achieve 100% attendance. We ask students and parents to attend presenta-tions together.
The presentation will include segments on the first semester, upcoming course selection for the sophomore year, and other important top-ics (including an overview of college admis-sions, as early as that sounds!)
We encourage all freshmen and their parents to save the dates!
JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES: RESULTS FROM NATIONAL TESTING DAY
We are unable to know precisely when the PSAT scores will be sent to us. We generally expect the scores to arrive near or du¬¬ring the Christmas Holiday. Scores will be mailed to families in the new year. Additionally and where available, interpretive guides will be distributed to students in classes in the new year.
SENIORS & SENIOR PARENTS: NAVIANCE DOCUMENT LIBRARY
Senior families are reminded that information distributed at ALL senior presentations can be found online in the Naviance Document Library. These documents contain important information regarding the college application process as well as information regarding the processing of applications, transcripts, and test scores. These documents include the Col-lege Handbook (a copy of which was given to all seniors on August 8th, and a second copy of which was distributed to all senior families at the College Night presentations on August 19th or 20th).
Damien High School • Parent newsletter De c e M b e r 2014
FroM the counseling DePartMent (cont.)
All members of the Damien community are
invited to the Drama Club’s performance of
Our Town. Multiple performances will be held
during the month of December. Ticket pricing
and schedule are as follows:Pasta Dinner and Performance
Dec. 6 & 7: dinner @ 5 PM, show at 5:45 PM
Performance Only
Friday, Dec 5 @ 7 PM
Tuesday, Dec 9 @ 3:30 PM
Presale tickets: $10 (performance ONLY); $15
(dinner and performance)
Non-Presale tickets: $12 (performance ONLY); $20
(dinner and performance)
DAMIEN DRAMA PRESENTS:OUR TOWN BY THORNTON WILDER
DAMIENlHigh Schoo
CAMPUS MINSTRY:UPCOMING RETREATS
Registration for the January retreats is open. Seniors the next Kairos is open and spots are still available. Juniors, it is not too late to register for the Jan-uary Emmaus Retreat. Registration for these retreats will close prior to the Christmas Break. You must register online through the Damien Homepage under the Faith tab and retreat regis-tration. Register ASAP to secure your spot.
Activities to Include:• Sale of Pizza, Hot Chocolate and Desserts to support the Class of 2015’s senior gift • Decorating activities for kids • Christmas carols from Damien’s Band & the Pomona Catholic and St Lucy’s Choirs. • Pictures with Santa!
C
or
Unum Et Anima Un
a
DAMIENHigh School
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS:
Damien High School • Parent newsletter De c e M b e r 2014
conDolences
anthony King ‘63
Please Pray for the deceased members of
the Damien community and their families.
College Athletic Recruiting: Everyone wants to give advice and everyone believes they know all the answers! Finally, a program that does just that! It gives the answers in a straightforward, no nonsense, entertaining 50-minute presentation. Damien and St. Lucy’s Priory High Schools have made an investment as a community to provide our student-athletes and parents with information about playing college athletics. If your son or daughter truly has aspirations to play at the next level, this is a “can’t miss” event. Former college coach and recruiting expert, Jack Renkens has helped thousands of families around the country head down the right path of finding scholarships. Often it’s down a path they didn’t know existed. Any doubts or reservations about attending? Simply check out the Recruiting Realities website at www.recruitingrealities.com.
The True FacTs abouT college recruiTing
Ugly Sweater Dance December 12 at 6:30 to
10:30, in the Damien Activity center. Don’t miss
out on this fun time, there will be a DJ ,photo
booth couples and group pictures, cookies,
popcorn, hot chocolate, a candy bar, a movie
and much more. Get that Ugly Sweater and
come have some fun. Tickets will go on sale
staring December 4. Ticket prices are $20.00
but if you bring a $5.00 toy then $15.00.
UGLY SWEATER DANCE: DEC. 12
For your holiday shopping convenience, the
Student Store will be open special hours
Saturday, December 20th from 9:00 am to 12:00
pm. Choose from a wide variety of items for
the entire family. It’s not too late to add Damien
items to those on your gift list!
STUDENT STORE:HOLIDAY HOURS
CROSS COUNTRYALL LEAGUE HONORS
Congratulations fo the following cross-country runners for earning All
League Honors!
Patrick BruceTim CorveseRyan Tessier
St. Monica’s Guild will be holding it’s annual Christmas Mass and Dinner on Wednesday, December 10th,
6:00pm. We will celebrate mass in the chapel followed by dinner in the Activity Center. Join us for some
holiday fun! The evening will include a catered dinner, wrapped white elephant gift exchange, if you wish to
participate please bring a wrapped gift value between $10 and $15.
ST. MONICA’S GUILD:ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MASS & DINNER
“The Realities of College Athletic Recruiting” - Presented by Jack Renkens Damien HS Activities Center
Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
In support of our Damien students Christian Service project, you are invited to also bring an unwrapped toy gift.
The cost for the dinner is $10.00. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] (so we may
get an accurate count for dinner). You may pay at the door or drop off a check at Advancement Office Building 300.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Check
back in January for our New Years’ Resolutions
from the International Baccalaureate office.
IB COORDINATOR’S CORNER