Carondelet Alumnae e-News l November 2020 |
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When the draft ended in 1973, women represented just two percent of the enlisted forces and eight percent of the officer corps. Today, those numbers are 16 percent and 19 percent, respectively, a significant increase over the past half century.
Council on Foreign Affairs, Demographics of the U.S. Military, July 2020
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Veterans Day - November 11th
Honoring Women in the Military
Thank you for your service to our country.
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Colonel Allison
(Del Grande) Galford '94
Director of Intelligence Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Allison leads a team of 130+ analysts and engineers at six
locations providing Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) analysis, and support for developing and sustaining war fighting systems.
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Margaret (Ewers)
DiPietra '97
Margaret was an active Navy helicopter pilot for nine years (2001-2010) after graduating from the US Naval Academy. She currently works for a management consulting firm in Arlington, VA.
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Mariel (Cortes) Young '11
SPC (Specialist), Multichannel Transmission Operator and Maintainer
Mariel is currently in graduate school at A.T. Still University in MO completing her Doctorate in Audiology. Upon graduation, she will commission as a medical officer into Army medicine.
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Grace Layugan '04
Hospital Corpsman, Second Class Petty Officer, US Navy
Grace will graduate from Florida State College this December as a Registered Nurse and head back to CA to join the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.
She is known as 'The Singing Doctor' and recently was selected as a Top 4 finalist for the local tv station in FL, "So You Say You Can Sing'. Congrats Grace!
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Shannon (Hamilton) Kopplin '87
Deputy Chief Counsel, Senate Select Committee on Ethics
Shannon is retiring from the US Navy after 26+ years in service. In her new civil role as Deputy Chief Counsel, she and her legal staff will oversee all allegations of improper conduct by Members of the Senate or Senate staff and recommend disciplinary action; recommend additional Senate rules or regulations to insure proper standards of conduct; and report any violations of law to the proper federal and state authorities.
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Megan Harkins '94
Propulsion, Structures and Manufacturing Branch Chief in
Material & Manufacturing, Air Force Research Lab Directorate
Megan leads a team of 30 engineers, scientists, and program managers to establish and improve the manufacturing enterprise for affordable, timely, and quality production of AF and DoD weapon systems at Wright Patterson AFB in OH.
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Jessica Wise '95
Deputy Division Director for Department of the Navy Tort Claims and Tort Litigation, Office of Judge Advocate General
Jessica is responsible for the administration and supervision of claims functions within the Department of the Navy (DON). She also serves as the Head, Affirmative and Personnel Claims Branch where she provides management and operational oversight to subordinate and geographically diverse units, located in VA, CA and FL.
She had the honor of serving under CAPT Shannon Kopplin '87, prior to her retirement from the US Navy, so that she could take on an extraordinary opportunity to serve in an even greater, more prestigious role.
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Marnie Sheehan Carter '88
Staff Sergeant
Marnie began her military career as an Accounting Supply Specialist with the U.S. Army 26th Infantry Regiment, Third Battalion at Ft. Dix, NJ. During her undergraduate studies at the University of San Francisco, she was stationed at the Presidio where she analyzed statistical data, reported trends and led military operational initiatives. Marnie was tasked with training Reserve Unit soldiers during Desert Shield/Desert Storm before retirement as a Staff Sergeant.
Marnie is Director of Northern California West Coast Elite Under Armour (WCEUA) Girls Basketball. She and her husband, Coach Stephen Carter (DLS Basketball) currently lead Team Carter with focus on faith, family and fun. Along with their five children, Sebastian (DLS '10) Chelsea, Brock, Christian (DLS '21) and Cebrián (DLS '22). Team Carter celebrates Carondelet's acknowledgment in honoring women who currently serve or who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY!
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Anita Gorecki '88
Associate General Counsel,
Department of Defense
Anita began her career as an Army JAG officer, where she served for six years, prosecuting crimes as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in Federal Court and defending Soldiers as part of the Trial Defense Service.
After moving to the Northern Virginia/D.C. area, she worked as an Associate General Counsel with the Department of Defense, Office of General Counsel, providing legal advice on national security matters.
Anita has been practicing law for 19 years and is in private practice as a US Military Justice Lawyer. She is called upon by the media (newspapers, on-line publications and TV) to discuss military legal issues in Washington, DC.
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Alexi (Jonopulos) Cuca '95
Liaison, US Navy Office of Legislative Affairs
Alexi began her career after graduating from the Naval Academy in 2000. Over the last twenty years, she has had amazing opportunities, such as serving on four nuclear powered carrier deployments, attending the Naval Postgraduate School and was assigned as an Assistant Naval Attaché to the US Embassy in Greece.
She is currently a portfolio manager for the Navy advising leadership on Congressional items of interest and serves as Navy representative to Congressional members, staffs, and committees.
In addition to providing information to Congress, her duties include arranging Congressional engagements, Congressional visits, and presenting Navy programs to the President's budget request.
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Dina (Frisella) Zumwalt '96
Surface Warfare Officer, US Navy
After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 2001, Dina served as a Surface Warfare Officer driving warships in the United States Navy for over six years, including two deployments to the Middle East.
She is currently the Director of Proposal Development for Epsilon Systems Solutions, specializing in U.S. Navy ship repair and maintenance, in San Diego, CA. Her husband Joe, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marines Corps, recently returned from a nine month deployment to Afghanistan. They have three wonderful boys (11, 8, and 3 years).
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Countdown to our virtual Visions of Christmas November 19th
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Visions of Christmas Virtual Event
Thursday, November 19, 6:30-7:30 PM
What exactly is a virtual event, you ask? It is a fun and unique way for us to come together and Celebrate the Spirit of the Season virtually! You are able to watch this hour long show from the comfort of your home. It is not a Zoom call, but rather a live event, hosted by a professional auctioneer and includes performances by students, highlights from faculty and staff, our annual fashion show, Sisterhood Fund support, and the drawing of our famous Spirit Trees. You won’t be visible to others, but will still be able to chat and engage with friends, family, or fellow alumnae, even those across the country!
Please visit our website for more information:
Spirit Tree Drawing
Our amazing Spirit Tree tradition continues! When you make a donation to Carondelet you are entered into a drawing to win one of our fabulous Spirit Trees! A trip to San Diego, our very own Electric Bike to zip around Santa Cruz and beyond, and All Things Food and Fun can be yours this year with our unique Spirit Trees!
Online Auction
November 16-23
Bid on exclusive Carondelet packages, vacation getaways, and much more. Opens Monday, November 16 at 10 AM.
Online Christmas Market
November 16-23
Shop from home with more than 17 local and national vendors for holiday gifts, decor, and more. A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to Carondelet.
We are grateful to our Annual Event Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Castle Companies, Inc.
Christine Sabatte Logan ’73 and Rich Logan
Emerald Sponsors
Hamill Family Charitable Fund
Insperity
Lehmer’s Buick GMC Concord
Randy and Cindy Pond
Ruby Sponsors
Better Living Care Homes
Boscacci Family
Oak Court Properties
Mission Valley Development
Monument Crisis Center
SC Builders
Sapphire Sponsors
Destination Wealth Management
Jimmy Johns
Kinder’s
Kinetic Real Estate Corporation
Lenox Homes
Mary Beth Kulawiec Dittrich ’79 & Thomas Dittrich
ParkSmart
Diane and John Pereira
Bay Alarm
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Grab a glass and join your class |
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Zoom Meeting Dates & Times
Class of 1981 | Tuesday, November 10th | 5:30 PM PST
Class of 1986 | Thursday, November 12th | 6:30 PM PST
Class of 1991 | Thursday, November 12th | 5:30 PM PST
Class of 1996 | Tuesday, November 10th | 6:30 PM PST
Class of 2001 | Tuesday, November 10th | 7:00 PM PST
Class of 2006 | Thursday, November 12th | 6:00 PM PST
All zoom links and meeting passwords will be emailed directly to alumnae and posted on class Facebook pages.
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Distance Learning:
A Teacher's Perspective
Patty Denney '86
I’ve been a kindergarten teacher for 24 years. When school first started this year, I thought to myself, “What in the world will I do all day without students in my room?” The appropriate word is ADAPT. My day begins with answering parent questions and troubleshooting before our Zoom starts (at 8:00 AM). The best part is greeting my kiddos and letting them share whatever they want, so that I can get to know them. This picture is what it looks like each day:
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I attempt to teach as normally as possible while trying to get my kids to unmute themselves when they need to talk. I feel like a ping pong ball as I try to watch all of them and answer questions as they are learning the letter sounds, numbers, and reading. After 2 1/2 hours (with lots of breaks) on Zoom, it is back to troubleshooting, creating independent assignments, and posting them on Google Classroom, as well as meeting in small groups to try to reach all of my kids needs.
I never realized how lonely it would be in a quiet room in front of a computer all day. I’m looking forward to what my school days were like before March 13, 2020—full of students, laughter, papers everywhere, silly questions, actual HUGS, remediating students during my break, germs, and NO masks. I can't wait to see the sweet smiles of my kindergartners as they enter my room each day and share all the days events in person.
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Have an old t-shirt, sweatshirt or sports uniform from your days at Carondelet? |
We are creating a CHS Memory wall and we need your help! Clean out your closet and send it to CHS.
Our students will love to see it!
Carondelet High School
Attn: Alumnae Office
1133 Winton Drive
Concord, CA 94518
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Carondelet Alumnae LinkedIn Community |
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Carondelet Alumnae Community |
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Carondelet High School l 1133 Winton Drive l Concord, CA 94518 l CarondeletHS.org
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