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News From the Head of School
By Lauren Lek, Head of School
Dear OLP Pilot Community,
Happy New Year to everyone!
As we begin a new year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our parent community, for your service to our school – whether it has been in volunteering, financial support to one of the OLP scholarship or annualfunds, or in your support of our clubs, athletic teams and co-curricular programs. Our parent community is a great pillar of strength for OLP, and we could not be successful in anything without your support.
Please note that on Friday, January 23, we will be coming together as a community of faith to celebrate our school wide liturgy and the Junior Unity Mass. I encourage parents to join us for at least one liturgical celebration each year. For those parents who are able to join us in January, please check-in at the Main Office prior to the 10:55 a.m. start time. We have also added two optional morning liturgies that parents and students are invited to. This month it is Tuesday, January 6th & 20th at 7 am in the Chapel.
January ends with national Catholic Schools Week, January 25–January 31. The theme is "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service." Investing in a Catholic education for our students is about the exemplary academics and rigorous college-preparatory training, combined with preparing them to be conscientious citizens, capable of putting their faith in action. Our students here at OLP are receiving an education grounded in academic, social and spiritual learning to form and transform them not only for life beyond high school, but also for life everlasting.
I would also like to remind all parents that Tuition Assistance Applications for the 2015-2016 school year are due on February 13, 2015. For those families who are continuing existing assistance, or families who are anticipating new hardships and will be applying for the first time, applications must be completed by February 13th to be considered. Click here to apply or visit www.aolp.org for more information.
Again, Happy New Year!
Thank you for all you do for OLP, and God bless!
Lauren Lek, Head of School
December Updates
By Jessica Hooper, Assistant Head of School
Dear Parents & Students,
Happy New Year! I hope that your Christmas Break has been filled with joy and good tidings. Upon the arrival of 2015 we have the privilege of celebrating National Catholic Schools Week from January 25th through January 31st. National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States.
Here at OLP we most definitely live out these values on a daily basis. As a college preparatory school our graduates are matriculating to outstanding colleges and universities throughout the world. Our culture of service to the community, built on the foundation of the charisms of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet continues to be life giving for both our students and the greater community. Most importantly, our Catholic faith creates an environment where all can experience God's love and that is what makes all the difference. The week will consist of daily celebrations for all stakeholders in our Catholic school community.
New this year our four counselors will be hosting once-monthly Coffee with Counselors morning sessions from 8 AM- 9 AM. The first one will take place this Wednesday, January 7th in the new Pilot Cafe on the topic of Academic Planning. Also on the topic of Academic Planning, please save the date of Wednesday, January 21st for our annual Parent Academic Scheduling Night. The evening's presentation will take place in the Holy Family Event Center at 6 PM. A formal presentation will be made regarding 2015-2016 academic course offerings and all Department Chairs will be available to answer questions and discuss course options. Students will hear a similar presentation in their class meetings prior to participating in the course registration process this February.
Last, but certainly not least, we are officially in full swing for Spring Sing! Rehearsals will take place after school throughout January and February. We look forward to seeing you at one or both of the annual performances on February 27th or 28th at the Balboa Theater in downtown San Diego. Should you want to support the Spring Sing effort as a parent volunteer please contact Mrs. Kathleen Herb Baker at [email protected]. We appreciate any support you can offer whether it be as a supervisor, props assistant, vocal coach, etc. If you have gifts to share we would love to partner with you!
May your New Year be blessed and full of great cheer.
Happy New Year,
Mrs. Jessica Hooper
Assistant Head of School
Bishop Flores Scholars Tuition Assistance Program
Dear Catholic School Parents,
The Diocese of San Diego has a rich tradition of educating the next generation of Catholics in our local parishes and schools. We are the largest private school system encompassing 49 schools in two counties, San Diego and Imperial, and impacting the lives of approximately 17,000 children in our elementary and high schools. The potential for growing our impact is unparalleled in this region, and that is why supporting Catholic education is vital to building the future of our local Church.
Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the diocese is very pleased to announce that it will be launching the Bishop Flores Scholars Tuition Assistance Program to provide annual K-12 tuition assistance totaling $1,000,000.00 for children in need to attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of San Diego. We believe that Catholic education should be both affordable and accessible to every child and family who desires it regardless of their background, neighborhood, family income, or culture.
Our mission is to develop sustainable financial partnerships with low and middle-income families who are invested in Catholic Education. These partnerships are critical to the success of our Catholic schools, and without them, we will not be viable. In addition to providing a quality Catholic education for San Diego and Imperial County children, our schools provide a character formation education where children are instilled with Catholic values, so that one-day they may contribute to society as globally aware and productive citizens.
In honor of Catholic Schools Week, families may apply for Bishop Flores Scholars Tuition Assistance Program beginning January 23, 2015. For information on eligibility, deadlines, applicant qualifications, award distributions, costs, recipient responsibilities and other facts, please talk to your local school's administrators and visit the Bishop Flores Scholars Tuition Assistance Program website at http://www.bishopfloresscholars.org.
Thank you in advance for your interest and participation in the Bishop Flores Scholars Tuition Assistance Program. You are directly supporting Bishop Flores' vision for the total mission of our schools: "Not only will these children become the Church of tomorrow, but they will also fill the most important roles in leadership and ministry as the Church reaches out to the world."
Congrats to National Merit Scholarship Candidates
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace would like to congratulate Gabriela Ashenafi and Hannah Roach for being named as candidates in the National Merit Special Scholarship competition. NMSC designated a pool of candidates with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores who now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for the sponsor's Special Scholarships. These candidates compete for scholarships funded by various corporations from around the United States. Gabriela was identified for the TD Ameritrade Services Scholarship and Hannah was identified for the LPL Financial Scholarship. These candidates and their high school officials must complete and submit a Special Scholarship Application that contains a substantial amount of academic and other information that will be used in the selection process. We wish Gabriela and Hannah success in the next stage of the application process.
Miss OLP News
Miss OLP is a time-honored tradition that the Academy celebrates every year. In 1947, Patricia Arnold was crowned the first Miss OLP. Since then, every year we honor a senior chosen by our school community as Miss OLP. She is a young woman who embodies the charisms of heart, faith, and courage. Her spirit is infectious; her compassion is seen by all. Each class also votes for an honoree that embodies these characteristics as well. The tradition of Miss OLP gives the students a chance to honor these exceptional young women from our community.
The Miss OLP and Class Honorees for 2015 are:
Miss OLP: Ane Holland, Marisa Gomez and Tori Mullenix
Senior Class Honoree: Abigail Suster, Nia de la Pena, Elizabeth Villanueva
Junior Class Honoree: Dana Price, Francesca Bielar, Aubrey LaBonte-Clark
Sophomore Class Honoree: Rita Daniel, Elizabeth Yokley, Lauren Widasky
We will celebrate the students chosen by their peers as Miss OLP and Class Honorees at a school-wide assembly on Thursday, February 5 and our Miss OLP Ball on Saturday, February 7t at La Gran Terraza at USD.
The Miss OLP Ball is a semi-formal dance that all students may attend, with or without an escort. Information about the Miss OLP Ball and instructions on buying a bid for the Ball are on our school website. Bids will be available for purchase shortly after we return from Christmas Break.
State of the Arts
By Kathleen Herb Baker '70, Visutal & Performing Arts Department
Spring Sing
The theme for Spring Sing 2015 is chosen! This year we will be performing "Fairy Tales" with a focus on the "backstory. " The Freshmen chose Peter Pan, (with emphasis on the "Lost Boys"), the Sophomores chose Aladdin (a story of the Genii), the Juniors chose Snow White, (a story of the Dwarves), and the Seniors chose Cinderella (from the eyes of the cat!) Spring Sing will be February 27-28 at the beautiful Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego. Tickets will go on sale Feb. 2 on aolp.org.
Legally Blonde, Jr.
The Thespian spring show is Legally Blonde, Jr. This show, based on the popular movie, "follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams" (www.mtishows.com) The cast includes Grace Newton as Elle, Jordan Stewart as Vivienne, Andrea Cervantes as Paulette, and Saintsmen Ben Hulbert, Francis Sapien, and Matt Martin as Emmett, Warner, and Callahan. Tickets will go on sale March 10th on aolp.org, and the show will be April 16-19.
OLP Dance Teacher in the Arts
Click here to read the California Ballet Newsletter and an article written by OLP alumna and current teacher Amanda Daly '08.
Junior Attends Freedoms Foundation Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
OLP junior, Megan Grosse, was selected as one of twelve students from San Diego County to attend the Freedoms Foundation Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The Freedoms Foundation is a nonprofit organization, founded in part by President Eisenhower, dedicated to educate Americans on their country and self-government. "We educate about American rights and responsibilities, honor acts of civic virtue, and challenge all to reject apathy and get involved."
Students and chaperones will fly to Philadelphia and reside at the Freedoms Foundation campus at Valley Forge. Four days will be spent in intensive lecture/discussion sessions with outstanding government, business, and academic leaders. This is an academically challenging experience as well as an opportunity to interact with high caliber students from other states. The second segment of the week-long conference includes the attendance of Congressional and Supreme Court sessions, photographs with Congressional leaders, and tours to the Library of Congress, National Archives, the Smithsonian, and numerous national monuments".
Megan heard about this trip through Ms. Hanley, who took her U.S. History classes to the Youth Leadership Forum in Balboa Parks at the Veterans Museum. After the application process, Megan was chosen to be one of 12 High School Juniors to attend this Valley Forge Conference and D.C. Tour. Megan is very excited to expand her knowledge on government and apply it to my future here at OLP and beyond.
Internship Opportunities
Summer Cancer Academy at UC San Diego School of Medicine: Applications being accepted for Summer 2015
For the 8th year the Oncofertlity Science Academy at UC San Diego School of Medicine will host a 6 week intensive summer academy, primarily taught by doctors in the Medical School. Academy dates are May 16 and July 9 - August 15, 2015.
Girls who will have completed at least a year of biology or chemistry and will enter 11th or 12th grade in the Fall of 2015 are eligible to apply. Completed applications must be submitted electronically by February 13, 2015.
All applicants MUST attend a meeting on February 18, with a parent. Meeting will be at the San Diego County Office of Education in order for their application to be considered.
A complete application includes the application form and essay as well as two teacher recommendations. All program information and application forms are available on our website at: http://repromed.ucsd.edu/oncofertility/
San Diego section of the Marine Technology Society Announces its 17th Annual Intership for High School Students
The MTS program will provide a six-week Summer experience for motivated high school students. Students will be provided with a hands on science-technology experience building important scientific, technical and employment skills under the direction of a workplace mentor. Students will also receive a $2,160.00 stipend upon successful completion of the program.
Applications are due January 15, 2015. Applications are available at mts-sandiego.org.
The Dear Neighbor Award & the CSJ Charism
Ten students at OLP have applied for and received the Dear Neighbor Award. The Dear Neighbor Award is given to students who have completed over 100 hours of service within a 12 month period. We decided to offer this award because we recognize that we are called by God to serve and we have the duty to serve because that is the call of our baptism. It is also an integral part of the CSJ Charism.
Serving our Dear Neighbor is at the heart mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and therefore is also at the heart of the mission of OLP. We are so proud of the students who have dedicated so much of their time to our Dear Neighbors. They served with gentleness, peace and joy to organizations and people throughout San Diego County.
Students who receive the Dear Neighbor Award will also be eligible to receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Award which was established in 2002. The President's Volunteer Service Award program was established to honor volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping others. This award also encourages citizens to live a life serving others.
We are so proud of the students who have achieved such a worthy award! They will be honored at the Evening of Excellence in the spring. Applications for the Dear Neighbor Award are available on line. Students may receive the award more than once. There will be an opportunity for more students to apply second semester.
Congratulations to the amazing young women who received this award: Gabriela Ashenafi,
Rita Daniel '17, Crystal Doan '15 (not pictured), Katie La Costa '17, Christine LeSchofs '16, Katherine Prevo '15, Alexa Ripa '17, Abbey Sarnowski '15, Jenelle Schyler Amio Seguin '16 and Anitza Velazquez Marquez '18.
Alumnae Profile: Theresa Dang '14
Here at Pitzer College, I am a Human Biology major and am enrolled in an accelerated pre-med track with a specific linkage program to Western University of Health Sciences Medical School.
My OLP biology classes gave me a solid foundation for my Intro Bio course here. In fact, I use my OLP Bio Honors and AP Bio notes and powerpoints to study and reference for my current Bio course. Shout out for Miss Ma'ake!
OLP did a substantial job in preparing me for college and gave me a strong foundation to build upon. Some OLP classes inspired me to take courses here that I wouldn't have otherwise considered, such as an International/Intercultural Studies Course called Science, Politics, & Alternative Medicine, a seminar that explores different healing methods around the world.
Perhaps the strongest similarity between my experience at OLP and Pitzer College is my ability to make connections with my professors. Granted, Pitzer College is very small college with a student population of approximately 1,000 and the professors here are very accessible, but my time at OLP definitely instilled in me a confidence and showed me the value of talking with and visiting my professors outside of class.
Another similarity is becoming involved in campus life. I wouldn't necessarily say this is what makes me unique over the other students here because there are so many passionate and involved students at Pitzer, but my OLP experience definitely has allowed me the extra confidence to be much more involved in campus life and to not be afraid to try new things.
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