News for O'Dowd alumni, parents, and friends
Finding God in All Things
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As Thanksgiving approaches, we are grateful for all the faculty and staff, students, families, and alumni who have made O’Dowd such a special community. Next fall, with the Grand Opening of the new O’Dowd Center, our celebrated events, from sports and Mass, to our annual crab feed, will move to our new NBA regulation-size court. Our old gym will remain, but our beloved traditions are taking their final bow from this space - a court which holds over 70 years of community memories. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, please share your gratitude for the old gym with the special moments you’ll always remember. We may publish your memories in our upcoming magazine! Happy Thanksgiving, Dragons!
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DRAGON ALUM LOOKS TO HISTORY TO SHAPE THE CLIMATE MOVEMENT
Cormac Kelly ’16 recently published “Existential Crisis and Mass Movements,” in the digital magazine Interzine. “Since taking AP US History at O’Dowd a driving question for me has been, ‘How can we use history to inform our decisions today?’” Cormac says. His writing seeks to draw parallels from the past, informing and inspiring the collective action we must take to protect our future.
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ENGLISH 1: FOUNDATIONS FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS
Over the last few years, O’Dowd has expanded our AP offerings and worked to ensure that incoming students build the foundational skills to pursue AP opportunities. This year O’Dowd’s English Department has designed an introductory 9th grade curriculum with the goal of encouraging even more students to pursue Honors and AP courses. Read more.
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A CULTURE OF BELONGING: FAMILY DAYS AT O'DOWD
This fall, O’Dowd held joyful AAPI, Latinx, and Black Family Days. “Our goal is to provide opportunities for families who share racial and cultural identities to build stronger connections to each other, and to the O’Dowd community,” explains Patrice Wakeley ’01, Director of Equity and Belonging. Students, faculty and staff helped plan fun days for our diverse and multicultural families to celebrate their shared history and traditions through games, music and food.
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DRAGON ALUM LEADS "FINISHING SCHOOL" FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRLS
Remi Watson Adams '88 is the founder of The Madame X Academy, which guides African-American girls through unique and immersive experiences to stimulate their imaginations and express their authentic selves. “I created Madame X to expose young girls to positive role models who look like them,” says Adams. “I want them to be able to navigate a diverse world, so providing them with etiquette classes and a wide variety of experiences is a big part of that mission.”
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A SUCCESSFUL FALL SEASON FOR DRAGON DEBATE
This month, O’Dowd’s Debate Team participated in the National Debate League’s Fall Invitational. “All of our debaters have proved they are more than up to the challenges of their changing environment this semester,” says coach Zach Moss. In particular, dedicated debaters Joey Wolmark ’23 and Ariana Trammell ’24 have had a great season. “Our varsity students have committed to leading our newer members into a future where I expect to see even more success from Dragon Debate,” declares Moss. Go Dragons!
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FALL MUSICAL - AS YOU LIKE IT!
Tickets for As You Like It!, O’Dowd’s fall musical, are on sale now! The show will run this weekend, November 19-21 Featuring a contemporary folk/pop score alongside Shakespeare's prose, As You Like It is a dream-like tale of faithful friends, feuding families, and lovers in disguise. Catch a sneak peek of our talented students, and then venture with us into the forest of Arden, where all are welcome and love has the last word! Pre-purchase your tickets here!
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DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
This month’s All Saints’ Day Mass was enriched by the talents of Latinos Unidos and the traditions of Día de Los Muertos. Together we remember, honor and celebrate our loved ones who have passed away, and the saints in heaven who watch over and guide us, always. Thank you Latinos Unidos for your beautiful ofrenda and dancing.
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THANK YOU VETERANS
Veterans’ Day! To thank all the brave veterans who have served our country, O’Dowd held an all-school assembly last week. Our program included the magic of civic virtue from O’Dowd parent Dennis Kyriakos, a conversation with former O’Dowd teacher and graphic novelist Gene Yang about the power and purpose veterans have felt to serve our country, and a moment of profound recognition and gratitude for O’Dowd veteran staff Gerald Bennett ’93, Jerome Chappel, and Larry Sterling ’95.
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SPIRIT WEEK 2021
Students were thrilled to celebrate the return of O’Dowd’s favorite time of year - Spirit Week! Every day, students gathered on the quad to continue the tradition of friendly class competition, including lip sync challenges, class cheers, poster making, and the most beloved event of all: the Night Rally! Click here to see the slide show!
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DRAGONS ON KAIROS
O’Dowd’s Kairos Retreat is finally back after over a year of remote learning! Kairos means “God’s Time,” in Greek. Over three days, classmates build a foundation of trust and growth, returning to their lives with a new perspective. Read more!
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MARY ANTHENIEN YELNICKER '99 recently moved to the DC area to serve as a National Defense Fellow. She has been assigned to the Stimson Center after completing her command tour at the 532nd Training Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Her research and writing will include topics such as nuclear signaling, nuclear deterrence theory, and South East Asia security studies.
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ELLIOTT JONES ‘04 is the new Program Manager for Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO). Under the Oakland Fire Department (OFD), MACRO teams perform basic first responder aid; liaise between health/social services and the community; respond to low-level emergency and non-emergency calls for individuals who may be experiencing mental health incidents; and advocate for the community.
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MATTS BENSON '17 opened his first sneaker store, Showroom LA, and styles celebrities and athletes across LA and California. Matts’ entrepreneurial spirit flourished during his time at O’Dowd, where he originally grew his sneaker business and launched the clothing brand Pretty Boy & Co.
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Upcoming Events
November
December
March
26 - Save the Date - 2022 Crab Feed
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'TIS THE SEASON OF GIVING (AND RECEIVING)!
We are truly blessed to have such a devoted and generous community, providing for today’s student needs while supporting the next generation at O’Dowd. Click here for information that may be useful as you consider your philanthropic priorities and end-of-year giving.
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