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FALCON FAMILY NEWS

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL

Dear Families,

This week, we received the call that no school administrator ever wants to receive: Freshman Jaden Eves had unexpectedly passed away. He was a wonderful young man, a beloved student, teammate, classmate, and friend, who will be dearly missed. A loss this sudden and a death so young can never fully make sense, and our hearts are heavy as we grieve together

As we mourn this tragic loss, we turn to our Catholic faith, trusting in God’s promise of eternal life and asking the Holy Spirit to comfort all who are grieving. We gathered as a faith community for a prayer service, lifting our sorrow to God and entrusting Jaden to His loving care. Many students have spent time in the counseling office or chapel for reflection, conversation, or quiet prayer Our dedicated, highly-trained counseling team will continue supporting students individually and in small groups, and we are working to re-establish routine, which helps teens feel secure during uncertain times We have equipped our teachers with thoughtful resources to support them as they lovingly accompany our students during this difficult time. As a community, we remain steadfast in our commitment to be especially attentive and deeply present in the days and weeks ahead.

Young people may respond to grief in many ways, even if they did not know Jaden personally We encourage you to talk openly with your sons and daughters about this loss Feelings of shock, sadness, anger, confusion, or sudden emotional changes are all normal Some students may cry easily; others may be quiet, fearful, or behave in ways that seem out of character. These reactions may continue for weeks or months.

Listening is one of the most supportive things you can offer. Helpful responses might include: “I can see you’re hurting,” or “It’s hard to accept a loss like this ” Statements that minimize feelings, such as “You’ll feel better tomorrow,” are less helpful You may also want to encourage your sons and daughters to share positive memories of Jaden as a way to honor his life.

As a Catholic community, we find strength in prayer and in our belief that God walks with us in our sorrow We experienced it firsthand in the hundreds of students, faculty members and staff who gathered outside of the chapel upon hearing the news We see God in the students and families supporting one another and reaching out to help others even amidst their own suffering.

We invite you to join us in praying for Jaden, his family, and all who are grieving. May God’s love bring us all peace and healing. As He does so, please know that we care deeply about your children and want to support your family through this difficult time Please reach out to our counselors if you would like to talk Grief has no set timeline, and we are here for you

Prayerfully,

Dave Perry, Ed D President

Cecilia Powers Principal

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

Highlighting our College Counseling and Wellness Programs

Christian Brothers High School has the most robust Counseling Program of any private school in the region and our College Counseling and Wellness Programs are perfect examples of the excellent programs available to our students.

Wellness:

In the Wellness Program, we are very fortunate to have two Wellness Counselors in our department for over a decade to better serve the emotional needs of our students Mrs Emily McDougall, in her eleventh year at CB and Mrs Juanita Patterson ‘81, in her fourth year at CB Both wellness counselors see many students across all grade levels who seek out help in everything from anxiety and depression to substance use, eating issues, coping with stress and grief They also go into the classrooms throughout the year offering presentations about Wellness, which involve the whole person (physical, emotional, academic, social, intellectual, environmental, and of course, spiritual) and offer small group support on the topics of stress management and social strategies

Mrs McDougall sends out her insightful “Wellness Wednesday” (archived here) messages to our students and families via Schoology There is even online services via their “Virtual Calming Room” that can be found here and is a one-of-a-kind Virtual Wellness Center that offers meditations, visual relaxation, yoga, prayer, music, and creative activities. Check out the monthly parent/guardian email newsletter “This Month in Wellness” and our new Parent Podcast, “Wellness Waves” , offering mental health and wellness information specific to each grade-level.This next release will focus on Social Wellness during junior year.

Our Wellness Counselors are truly invaluable to the CB community, offering exceptional expertise and compassionate care to all of our students.

College Counselors:

The CB College Counseling team of Ms. Melissa McClellan and Ms. Suzanna Shenk-Tiffany continues to be a true gift to our students and families for any and all topics related to college advising. You would be hard-pressed to find two experts that collaborate so well and work so tirelessly for our entire CB community. Together, they bring years of experience, deep knowledge of the college admissions landscape, and an unwavering dedication to helping each student discover their best-fit path after high school Their expertise spans college admissions trends, application strategy, financial aid and scholarships, essay development, NCAA eligibility, and the evolving landscape of higher education

Their passion for supporting young people shines through in everything they do From one on one planning sessions to lively classroom workshops, from hosting our virtual Morning Coffee Meetups to organizing our bustling on campus College Fairs, these two are everywhere our students need them to be Their long-standing relationships with college representatives nationwide and their commitment to staying current with admissions trends ensure that CB families receive thoughtful, accurate, and personalized guidance every step of the way

Most importantly, Ms. McClellan and Ms. Shenk-Tiffany make the college planning process feel manageable and (maybe even exciting!) They listen closely, celebrate student strengths, and help families navigate every milestone with confidence and clarity. Follow us on Instagram: @cb college counseling

Upcoming Counseling Dates:

March 19

April 10

April 30

Exploring College Night for Juniors and their Families (In-Person)

Coffee with the College Counselors for Freshman Parents and Guardians (Virtual)

Transition to College Night for Seniors and their Families (Virtual)

THE ARTS

The choir program had a successful trip to Disneyland where they had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Disney Backstage Recording Session! The students performed in a real recording studio with instruction from professional musicians and Disney employees, and performed the soundtrack to popular Disney movies. They ended the day with some fun at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Our Honors Band will perform at Time Tested Books on March 15 at 4 p.m. Come support!

The Theatre Department is hard at work for the upcoming play, Ephipany. Check out their progress and the behind-the-scenes prep here!

Audio Production just released the third episode of the new podcast, Wellness Waves Listen here!

The CB Community celebrated Ash Wednesday mass together and CMMT created this video to highlight faith and almsgiving opportunities this Lenten season.

Twin School Week: From March 3-6, CB will celebrate and fundraise for our Lasallian "Twin School" in Ethiopia. Our Twin School was established by the Christian Brothers in 2010 to serve the educational needs of children living in Addis Ababa. While the school is open to the general public for a modest fee, the children from the nearby orphanage run by St. Mother Teresa's Community do not pay.

Throughout the first week of March, CB will raise awareness about our Twin School, and host a number of fundraisers to support our goal of raising $6,000 this year Students, check Schoology for information about spirit dress days and fundraisers, including a SALT coffee cafe on Tuesday morning, March 3 Click here to purchase a shirt or sweatshirt!

All proceeds will go directly to our Twin School, and there will be a spirit day during Twin School week when students will be allowed to wear this apparel with modified dress pants.

ATHLETICS

Our first letter of intent signing day of the 2025-2026 school year will take place Tuesday, April 28th at 8 a.m. in the George Cunningham ‘40 Performing Arts Center.

Winter sports playoffs began in the last two weeks of February. The men’s basketball team was the fifth seed in the division three playoffs The women’s basketball team was the number two seed in division two playoffs The men’s soccer team was the third seed in division three playoffs and the women’s soccer team was the number thirteen seed in division three playoffs Congratulations to the women’s varsity basketball team who were the CVC League Champions for the second year in a row with an undefeated league season.

Did you catch CB student-athletes on Good Day Sacramento? Our student-athletes were featured to highlight their involvement in the Special Olympics club on campus. Watch their package here!

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of celebration, community, and impact! Join Auction Co-Chairs Judy Bernacchi and Samantha Ansted at 5:30 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2026, for Christian Brothers High School’s spectacular ‘A Night to Remember’ Auction & Gala This year’s event is truly one for the history books as we proudly celebrate 150 years of Christian Brothers High School! As our largest fundraiser of the year, every dollar raised directly supports CB education and tuition assistance, ensuring that a Christian Brothers education remains accessible and transformative for generations to come.

What to expect at the Auction & Gala:

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM - General Admission Opens (Enjoy Silent Action, Cocktails & Community)

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM Dinner & Live Auction

9:30 PM – 10:30 PM Live Entertainment and Dancing

What to wear: Formal dress

Here is how YOU can become involved: Purchase a TICKET here: https://150CBAuction.givesmart.com

DONATE – Your donation helps us offer unique auction items and experiences to raise funds for a great cause! Need ideas: CB Wish List.

VOLUNTEER – Help us make this an unforgettable evening by lending a hand before, during or after the event! Visit: https://cbhs.volunteerhub.com

BID – Take part in the excitement of it all! Whether from the comfort of your home or at the event you can bid on one of a kind silent auction items

GOLDEN RAFFLE – Your purchase of a Golden Raffle ticket supports CB student and enters you into a drawing to win your chance from a selection of live auction items Tickets are only $150 To purchase please use the attached form or contact Philanthropy at 916-733-3647.

Preview Live Items here!