Falcon Family News - April 2025

FALCON FAMILY NEWS

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

Dear Families:

As we embark on another season of college exploration and admissions, I find myself reflecting on the journey our students have taken during their time at Christian Brothers High School It has been my privilege to serve as the Director of College Counseling for the past 15 years, and throughout this time, I have had the honor of guiding thousands of students and families through one of the most exciting and at times, daunting chapters of their educational journey

The world of college admissions continues to evolve, often reflecting broader changes in society The landscape today is more dynamic than ever, shaped by shifting admission practices, test-optional policies, increasing competition, and a growing emphasis on student well-being and fit Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: the strength of the education and formation our students receive as members of the Christian Brothers community

At the heart of our mission are the Five Lasallian Core Principles Faith in the Presence of God, Concern for the Poor and Social Justice, Quality Education, Inclusive Community, and Respect for All Persons These principles not only define the culture of Christian Brothers but also offer invaluable guidance as students navigate the college search and application process.

Faith in the Presence of God reminds students that this journey is not solely about outcomes or acceptances but about trusting in the path uniquely laid out for them Amidst the uncertainty of college decisions, holding onto that faith provides comfort and clarity.

Concern for the Poor and Social Justice challenges students to think beyond themselves In crafting their applications and seeking future opportunities, students are encouraged to consider how their talents, education, and career aspirations can be used to uplift and serve others embodying the true spirit of Lasallian education.

Quality Education has long been a hallmark of a Christian Brothers education, and it is this foundation that allows our students to pursue higher education with confidence Whether they find themselves at a large university, a small liberal arts college, or anything in between, they are prepared to think critically, lead with compassion, and contribute meaningfully

Inclusive Community is not just something we practice on campus it is a mindset our students will carry with them into their college experiences. As they enter diverse learning environments, they will have the opportunity to engage with new perspectives, build relationships across differences, and champion inclusivity in their future communities

Finally, Respect for All Persons is an essential value in the college admissions process, where students are often asked to present their most authentic selves By honoring their own unique journey and respecting the experiences of others, our students demonstrate the empathy and humility that set them apart

As your family continues along this path, I encourage you to remain centered in these Lasallian principles

Remember that the "right" college is not defined by a name, ranking, or prestige but by where your student feels seen, supported, and inspired Trust that their time at Christian Brothers has prepared them not only academically but morally and spiritually for the road ahead.

Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you during this significant time It is a joy and privilege to witness the remarkable growth of our students and to celebrate all the possibilities that await them Please know that my door is always open, and I look forward to supporting you through every step of this journey

With gratitude and hope,

Melissa McClellan Director of College Counseling & Counseling Department Coordinator

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

COLLEGE

Graduating Seniors have been receiving letters of acceptance to colleges and universities across the country. Congratulations to the class of 2025! As many seniors already know, this has been a very competitive year for college admission.

In addition, with many colleges and universities implementing “test optional” and “test blind” policies due to Covid, many schools received a 10-30% increase in application numbers, driving down admission acceptance rates Many seniors across the country applying to more colleges than ever in order to “hedge their bets” during a time where college visits were next to impossible This has resulted in record numbers of applicant pools Since most campuses have from 45,000-100,000 applicants to fill freshmen classes of approximately 4500, one can see how difficult decisions have been for admission offices in 2025 In fact, for the eighth year in a row, many UCs and CSUs have instituted a ‘wait-list’ for stellar students who were not admitted It is difficult to know to what extent the waitlists will be used and as a result, there have been disappointments - not only among our own students, but for tens of thousands of other California seniors

Thankfully most of our seniors planned well and applied to not only ‘reach’ schools, but ‘target’ schools and ‘likely’ schools As a result, CB students have options for next year and are able to begin their college careers at great schools If any seniors are still grappling with final decisions, remember that Mrs Shenk-Tiffany and Ms McClellan are available to assist and support you Seniors who will be attending community college should have already completed their application and registration, and completed the online orientation Students attending a UC (and needing to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement) should be receiving information on the May 21 (tentative) Analytical Writing Placement Examination (AWPE) More AWPE info and sample questions here

The good news is that many of our students have been admitted to several prestigious universities and programs, including Dartmouth, Cornell, UC Berkeley, UCLA, LMU, Santa Clara, Creighton University, Sacramento State University, Saint Mary’s College of CA, etc , and many more too numerous to list

Parents, be sure to have your senior go to the CB Family Connection as soon as possible, but by MAY 6 for college admittance Students need to list ALL colleges to which they have been admitted and ALL scholarships, awards, etc

SUMMER PROGRAMS -- DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY THIS SUMMER!

Summer will be here before we know it! Summer is a wonderful time for students to expand their horizons, enrich their lives with fascinating experiences, and improve their readiness for college through academic pursuits There are many summer opportunities for high school students: classes, camps, travel study, volunteer service, and employment Opportunities exist locally as well as across the country and abroad Check out the CB Counseling website for details and contact information or talk to your grade-level counselor

Speaking of Summer Programs…

Summer School is a great opportunity to remediate any Ds or Fs students received so that they can maintain college eligibility or to get ahead academically! Please contact the student’s grade level counselor if you have any questions The link to register for summer programs is here

THE ARTS

If you missed it last weekend, you still have three more chances to catch our spring play, The Dining Room. Come see our 15 actors play nearly 60 parts in this modern classic. Shows run April 4-6, Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets run $10 General Admission and $5 for students. Seating is reserved, and tickets are only available online at the Ticket Hub.

It's that time of year when our visual artists show their best works in the LA Salle Art Show. So come on out on Friday, April 25 from 5-7pm to see the efforts of our talented students. The show is free, though some artists may choose to sell their work Who knows? You could take home some original CB art!

Closing out the month is our Instrumental Spring Concert Mr Hammond and the band kids put on a rocking show last semester, so you won’t want to miss this one The performance is April 30 at 7pm, tickets are $5 and available only through the Ticket Hub

A big shout out to Mr. Hogan and the KBFT program for doing CB proud at the annual Student Television Network Convention in Tampa, FL. Seniors Charlie Moore and Tawny Huang took second place for their short film, and seniors Robert Spore and James Torinus took 3 place in Action Sports Highlights. Way to go! rd

Check out the arts calendar for the Spring Semester 2025

And though it’s technically not in April, the Spring Choir Concert is just around the corner on May 3! The choirs always cook up something extra fun for this end-of-year arts send off, so come celebrate with us! Tickets are $5 and available online only from the Ticket Hub With shows at 4 and 7pm, you’ve got two choices to catch this awesome show

Artwork by :

Isabella Rose Ledford

LASALLIAN STUDENT LIFE

For all faith-filled events, visit the LSLO page here: https://www.cbhs-sacramento.org/liturgies-and-prayerservices/

For all current retreat opportunities, visit the LSLO page here: https://www cbhs-sacramento org/retreats/

STUDENT SERVICE UPDATE

This semester, CB’s freshman class made a meaningful impact through a service-learning project focused on food insecurity and the housing crisis in Sacramento Partnering with the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament’s Brown Bag Lunch ministry, students prepared and served nutritious meals for individuals experiencing homelessness on weekday mornings, arriving to school by 7am and traveling to the Cathedral to spend their mornings engaged in service! Beginning at the end of January, they worked in small groups to distribute meals directly to those in need, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges of hunger and poverty in our community

Beyond providing essential food supplies, this project served as a learning experience for the students They deepened their understanding of social responsibility, and many students expressed how the experience changed their perspectives and inspired them to continue serving others beyond the classroom Their efforts exemplify the Lasallian core principle of Concern for the Poor and Social Justice, making a real difference in the lives of those they served

ATHLETICS

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Congratulations to all the CVC All league Winter Athletes from the 2024-2025 season CVC All-League

Men’s Basketball

Stephan Hewitt ’25

Daniel Powers ’25

Women’s Basketball

Aleyah Harmon ’25

CVC MVP

Olivia Novi ‘27

Joy Omishakin '26

Men’s Soccer

Ethan Brown ’25

Cadell Elliott Fairman ’27

Shane Puga ’27

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD

Women’s Soccer

Mia Bernet ’25

ELIGIBILITY: Athletes who are members of a Capital Valley Conference recognized Varsity Team are eligible for the award. Freshmen are not eligible as the athlete must have at least one year of grades, beginning with the 9th grade. Athletes must finish the season in good standing.

Athletes must have a cumulative 3.50 GPA (or above) weighted grade point average as well as a current 3.5 (or above) weighted GPA. The cumulative GPA is based on cumulative grades of Semesters from 9th grade onward. Athletes are awarded a Scholar-Athlete patch for each sport season for which they qualify. The following athletes are being recognized as CB Falcon Scholar Athletes:

Varsity Baseball

Alex Bustamante ’27

Benjamin Gull ’26

Michael Horan ’25

Joshua Lewis ’25

Andrew O'Neill ’25

Johnathan Otto ’26

Henry Ramsey ’25

Hudson Schempp ’25

Dillon Wegner ’26

Madden Williams ’26

Varsity Dive

Claire Cowan ’26

Matthew Covert ’27

Kathryn Littlejohn ’26

Ellie Li ’25

Claire Nichols ’26

Olivia Obenour ’27

Giselle Vazquez ’25

Varsity Men’s Golf

Joaquin Almeida ’25

Samuel Mills ’26

Charles Perry ’26

Troy Sanchez ’25

Quinn Tam ’27

Carlo Zago ’25

Xavier Zona ’25

Varsity Men’s Lacrosse

Jacob Carlson ‘25

Jace DeBoo ‘25

Ryan Delucchi ‘25

George Dozzie III ‘25

Sameh Fananapazir ‘25

Matthew Harris ‘25

Stephan Hewitt ‘25

John Koch ‘25

Xavier Pacheco ‘27

Dylan Parvin ‘26

Jack Simon ‘25

John Witry ‘26

Varsity Women’s Lacrosse

Lucenna Castagnola ‘25

Cassie Dugan ‘25

Maria Hinton ‘27

Heidi Koenig ‘26

Margaret Kuzmich ‘25

Quinn McLaughlin ‘26

Gabriella Palamidessi ‘25

Elise Perkins ‘25

Sarah Schmidt ‘27

Ellia Suleiman ‘25

Abby Wigglesworth ‘26

Mia Wyatt ‘26

Audrey Yetter ‘25

Varsity Softball

Mackenzie Aurich ‘27

Annika DeWaal ‘27

Josephine Eschleman ‘25

Jaden Fonts ‘25

Zoe Pham ‘25

Clementine Rivera-Brown ‘27

Maya Torres ‘26

Lillie Warren ‘26

Varsity Swim

Flannery Carpenter ‘26

Jaydison Dacuycuy ‘27

Lola Duchesne ‘25

Jillian Ernce ‘25

Olivia Esperas ‘26

Illiana Foth ‘26

Abigail Gonong ‘25

Lana Lukins ‘26

Lily Morgan ‘27

Natalia Parfenova ‘25

Alexander Potter ‘25

Anna Potter ‘25

Eleanor Ramsey ‘27

Sidney Reyes ‘27

Angelina Rivera ‘25

Dakota Schiltz ‘26

Jack Steen ‘25

Evelyn Storm ‘27

Alexandra Taylor ‘26

Andrew Yuzon ‘26

Varsity Men’s Tennis

Ethan Brown ‘25

Logan Horst ‘26

Neel Manchanda ‘25

Sean McKinley ‘26

Finn Murray ‘25

Colsen Nguyen ‘26

Adam Parra ‘25

Ryan Yee ‘26

Varsity Men’s Volleyball

Ryan Brickley ‘26

Scott Kong ‘26

Philipp Morozov ‘26

Nolan Xavier Nguyen ‘25

Flynn Ryan ‘25

Varsity Track and Field

Myla Awa ‘27

Mason Barnes ‘25

Dren Barroga ‘26

Nicholas Buckman ‘26

Ella Bugatto ‘26

Penelope Cole ‘26

Amor Corcoran ‘25

Jay Cummings ‘26

Giovanni Destefano ‘26

Gabriella Devlin ‘27

Mason Edgett ‘26

Leyu Emiru ‘26

Soliyana Emiru ‘26

Elise Henderson ‘25

Ella Johl ‘25

Isaiah Jordan ‘25

Anna Katsandres ‘26

Katherine Koch ‘26

Gabriel Kojima ‘26

Nicolette Kufasimes ‘26

Jackson Levasseur ‘26

Kathryn Littlejohn ‘26

Arabella Roby Lobo ‘25

Delaney Lowder ‘26

Maximus Maldonado ‘26

Gunnar Marsh ‘27

Natalie Martin ‘26

Eduardo Martinez ‘26

Leonardo Martinez ‘26

Ryan McCarthy ‘26

James Morton ‘26

Eyvonne Nguyen ‘25

Sara Pierce ‘27

Finn Rigby ‘26

Paige Rupert ‘26

Kingston Sablan ‘27

Zachary Symkowick ‘26

Natalie Tholstrup ‘26

Deneyterio Valdez ‘26

Marc Thomas Valdez ‘25

Malia Van Den Bogert ‘27

Lucas Wagner ‘26

Veronica White ‘26

AUCTION RECAP: ELEGANCE IN BLOOM

THANK YOU to all of our sponsors, donors, volunteers and guests for making ‘Elegance in Bloom’ a wonderful success! You helped raise over a half-million dollars in support of Christian Brothers High School education and tuition assistance

Click here to see pictures from the event!

On March 28th, 2025, Christian Brothers High School proudly hosted its second annual Career Pathways Day, an event designed to give our students a competitive edge as they prepare to enter the professional world. Over 50 dedicated alumni volunteered their time to serve 1,150 students, offering valuable insights, advice, and guidance.

The day was packed with diverse professional development sessions, including keynote speeches, interactive workshops, and panel discussions