December 2009 January 2010 Cavalier

The Cavalier

December 2009 / January 2010

A Parent/Student Newsletter keeping you in touch with Archbishop Spalding High School Greetings from the President’s Office

Archbishop Spalding High School 8080 New Cut Road~ Severn, MD 21144 Phone: (410) 969-9105 Fax: (410) 969-1026

ADMINISTRATION President Dr. Michael E. Murphy Principal Mrs. Kathleen K. Mahar Assistant Principal, Academic Affairs Mr. Lewis R. Van Wambeke Assistant Principal, Student Affairs Mr. William M. Weber Assistant Principal, Student Affairs Ms. Kaycie S. Lomax CFO / Business Manager Mr. John C. Coppola Director of Athletics Mr. Lee R. Dove Director of Development Mrs. Katy A. Caruso Director of Alumni and Media Relations Ms. Kristen A. Koehler Director of Admissions Mr. Thomas E. Miller Editor, Assistant to the President Mrs. Heide C. Cornet-Hostelley

IN THIS ISSUE... Greetings from the President 1 Principal / Finance / SHS 2 Academic Affairs / Cav Shop / Attendance 3 Student Affairs 4 Admissions / Cavalier Club 5 Campus Ministry 6 Guidance 7 Parents’ Association 8 Computers / It’s Academic / GMA 9 Technology / Facebook 10 Athletics / Financial Aid 11 Spalding Spring Sensation ~ Bella Italia! 12

Writing this letter, I am in a state of confusion. I have just finished the first day of a conference in South Carolina with the temperature a magnificent eighty two degrees and I heard my first Christmas song. There is something unsettling when you hear Bing Crosby singing about a white Christmas and you see palm trees. Christmas is supposed to be cold and filled with at least the hope of snow on Christmas Eve. There is always the sense that Christmas arrives too soon, but there is something wrong when the store decorations and the malls have lined the walls with greenery, bows and lights and I still have Halloween candy waiting for someone to eat it other than me. Whatever happened to waiting until the frost was on the pumpkins before the Christmas sales started? You know that something is wrong when you see a TV ad for lottery tickets that have a Christmas theme. Now that I have shared my initial confusion about hearing Christmas songs in midNovember, I must admit that there is a part of me that welcomes the start of the Christmas season. When people hear those Christmas songs and the see the lights on the trees, it reminds us of the hope that was brought to us on that first Christmas day. We all recall the sights and sounds of our earliest Christmas memories. It was the excitement of Christmas morning and the gathering of family around a table with all types of food and desserts. During my conference in South Carolina, I met a man named Derreck Kayongo who told his story of life in Uganda under a cruel dictatorship. He shared how he had seen so many terrible things in his life and had watched as family and friends were killed right before his eyes. His story was one of tremendous grief but also of great hope. He told of the kindness of those who helped his family leave the war torn area and shared what they had with his family. His life’s journey eventually brought him to the United States and a life he could never have imagined. Throughout his tumultuous life, his faith allowed him to move forward. He said, “When you have a gun pointed at your head, you realize how important God is to you. The real challenge is keep him in your life when the gun is no longer there.” His belief that God has a plan for him is the reason he started a non-profit company to provide soap to those in third world countries who are dying from diseases caused by a lack of hygiene. For those who benefit from his efforts, he provides hope for a better tomorrow. As we weave our way through all of the insanity of Christmas shopping and parties with family and friends, I hope that we do not forget the gift that we received on that first Christmas. With the birth of a child, mankind was changed forever. The light that led the wise men to a small stable in Bethlehem should also be the light that leads us to our God. The Christmas spirit is not about the single day of the year, but rather the hope that is generated for a life filled with sharing your gifts and talents with others. I pray that this Christmas, you enjoy the time with your family and connect with the hope that the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes brought to our world. May God bless you for all that you do to show the light of God to your children and those you meet.

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Principal’s Desk ~ Mrs. Kathy Mahar

“We Are Spalding”

The Faculty, Staff, and Administration of Archbishop Spalding High School pray that the blessings of Christmas bring peace and joy to you and your families. May your home be filled with the warm and loving spirit of the season. Help all of us remember those who struggle for food, shelter, and safety. And, may the New Year bring you continued blessings, good health, and happiness.

I was waiting in line at the MIAA Football Championship where a small group of Spalding girls were commiserating that they did not have enough money for the $7 per person tickets. They were pooling their resources, but coming up far short. Out of the blue, a Spalding father ahead of me in line and another behind me spoke up and said that they would cover the girls’ admission – this was the championship game after all. The group of girls was almost dumbstruck at the kindness and was stumbling over themselves expressing gratitude when one of them looked at the fathers and at me and said, “Wow, we are Spalding!”

TEACHER OF THE YEAR Don’t forget to nominate a Teacher of the Year. Nomination forms are available on the school’s website and should be sent to the principal BY December 11th.

STRATEGIC PLAN We are beginning work on a new strategic plan and we need your help! Where do we want to go as an educational community? If you could design a model school, that was the best at what it taught and offered students, what would it look like and what would that mean for Spalding? This is the part of the process where we need to stretch our imaginations. Please be on the look-out for an electronic questionnaire that will be administered in early December. As busy as the season is, we would greatly appreciate your taking some time to provide feedback. We will also be hosting several parent focus groups. Dan LeDuc, a parent and Board member, is chairing the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. We thank Dan and all of you for your collaborative support.

This gesture and phrase speak to who we are as a community. We support each other, we celebrate each other, and we respect each other. We are united by our faith and by a basic kindness that shapes who we are. If you have a “We Are Spalding” story and would like to share it, please email me at [email protected].

Students Helping Students Students Helping Students (SHS) – NEW! SHS is now offered BEFORE school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and during ALL lunch periods (by appointment only), EVERY DAY! National Honors Society students are available to provide tutoring in various academic subjects. SHS is a great place to get help, review for upcoming tests, get organized or just work quietly on your own! •

OPTION 1: Morning Tutoring o Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays o Time: 7:00-7:40 o Location: Room 114

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OPTION 2: Lunch Tutoring o See Mrs. O’Kieffe in room 114 to request a Lunch Tutor o Tutors will be assigned based on availability and subject

From the Finance Office MID-TERM EXAM REMINDER All accounts must be current by January 1, 2010 in order for your student(s) to take their mid-term exams. If the account(s) are not current, your student(s) will not be allowed to take final exams. TUITION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (TMS) OUT STANDING LATE FEES TMS applies payments toward late fees and returned payment charges first. The balance of the payment is then applied to tuition. What this means is that your student’s account will be delinquent if the fees are not included in the tuition payment. TUITION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (TMS) INFORMATION Phone: 1-800-772-4867 Mailing address with payment stub: Tuition Management Systems P.O. Box 94634 Cleveland, OH 44101 Mailing address without payment stub: Tuition Management Systems P.O. Box 842722 Boston, MA 02284-2722

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Please contact Tara O’Kieffe, Resource Coordinator, at ext. 279 for details about SHS or other tutoring options.

TRAFFIC ALERT!!!

The entrance to the school off of New Cut Road is a ONE WAY ENTRANCE ONLY! This is not an exit at any time of the day or day of the week. There have been some near headon collisions due to people exiting. For everyone’s safety, but especially our students, please observe this traffic route at all times.

The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Academic Affairs ~ Mr. Lewis R. Van Wambeke Mid-Term Preparation Begin with the end in mind. I want to remind all parents that mid-term exams begin the second week after we return from Christmas break. Encourage your child to work diligently until break arrives so they can enjoy time with family and friends. Of course, some study will be necessary over break to prepare for exams and to complete assignments. All teachers will provide a study guide to aid the students in preparing for mid-terms. National Honor Society (NHS) is again hosting MID-TERM MADNESS during the school days preceding exams. These intense exam sessions are led by NHS members and teachers. Information on time and place will be posted and announced before the sessions. Please make sure that your son or daughter eats properly and gets sufficient sleep during exam week. Proper rest and nutrition are important not only in terms of our general well-being, but also in achieving the proper mindset for exams. Students, however, sometimes lose sight of this as they struggle to prepare for exams. Cramming is not recommended and can be avoided by conducting an early and regular review of the material. Twenty minutes of review over a two to three week period will result in better retention of information and avoid a three hour evening of cramming. Reminder: Cell phones will not be allowed in exam rooms. Congratulations to the newly inducted NHS students! Many of our students are recognized on a regular basis for their talents and efforts. Last month, new members were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS). These individuals met stringent criteria in four categories: scholarship, service, character, and leadership. EXAM SCHEDULE:

Monday, January 11

8:10-9:40

Science

10:00-11:30

English



Tuesday, January 12

8:10-9:40

Foreign Language

10:00-11:30

Math



Wednesday, January 13

8:10-9:40

Social Studies

10:00-11:30



Thursday, January 14

8:10

Conflict and Make-Up Exams



Friday, January 15

No Classes - Students Off



Religion

Merry Christmas! Have a blessed and happy holiday season.

The Cavalier Shop The Cavalier Shop has added some new items to the store recently. We have Nike loose fit shirts for men and women and under armor t-shirts for men and women. We also have Christmas ornaments and new athletic bags which are available in 2 sizes. Recently, we had a varsity/school jacket fitting through Propst and Son’s sports which was a success. Many students came by and were fitted for their school jackets.   Please know that I have samples in the school store and orders can be placed year round. There is a 4-6 week turn around for jackets. As I reminder, I sell school ties in the store year round and I also have the winter sweater available for purchase. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!

Attendance When a student is absent, a parent/guardian must notify the attendance coordinator at extension 239 by 9:00 am. Students must present a written note from a parent/guardian to the Attendance Coordinator on the day they return. The note must contain the date(s) and reason for the absence. Notes may also be faxed to 410-969-1026. A physician’s certificate is required for prolonged absences. For any questions or to contact the Attendance Coordinator, Mrs. Trumpler, please call extension 239 or please email [email protected]

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Student Affairs ~ Mr. William M. Weber It is sure getting cold outside. As the winter months approach, I wanted to give the students and parents some useful information. When school has to be closed or delayed due to inclement weather, please follow Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Announcements will be made on Baltimore and Washington TV stations, as well as radio stations WBAL (1090 AM), WPOC (93.1 FM) – Baltimore, WTOP (1500 AM) – Washington or www. schoolsout.com. Also, I would recommend that students take their books home with them when there is a prediction for a major snowstorm. This helps students stay current and may even give them an advantage for studying. We recently had our Freedom from Chemical Dependency counselor working with our students. Mr. Glenn Hall has been working with our students for the past five years. He has developed a teacher/student relationship with our students even though he is only here for one week a year. At Spalding, we feel it is important to talk with the students early and often about chemical dependency. Therefore, we focus on the ninth grade class each year. He also talks with the sophomore, junior and senior classes as a whole. He covers topics that empower young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding alcohol and drug use. Having Mr. Hall here also encourages students to have an open dialog about chemicals and the effects it can have on students and adults. During his talks, Mr. Hall encourages and supports the non-use/abuse of alcohol and other drugs during adolescence. In addition to talking with the students, Mr. Hall also meets with the parents to discuss very important topics. Some of the topics he discussed this year were effective ways to communicate with your child about drugs and drug use. He also gives parents the tools to cope with trends and what to say about your own experiences with alcohol and/or drug experimentation. Mr. Hall also covered different areas such as the use of household items to get high. He also felt it was important to talk to the parents about prescription drugs this year. There is a trend in our society of addiction to prescription drugs. This means our students are not immuned from society and the problems that exist in the “real world.” Mr. Hall’s advice: clean out your medicine cabinets. There is no reason to keep prescription drugs. As part of the health education program and an on-going commitment to prevention and wellness, Mr. Hall also provides teachers and administrators with up-to-date information on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. We would like to thank Mr. Hall for his time and dedication to the students, parents and faculty at Archbishop Spalding High School. In addition, we would also like to thank the Parents’ Association for financially helping bring Freedom from Chemical Dependency to us this year. Without the Parents’ Association this program would not be available to our students. So Thank You Parents’ Association! Some important future events to mark on your calendar: December 1 December 5 December 11 December 16 December 18 December 18 – January 3 January 4 January 8 January 11 – 13 January 14 January 15 January 18 January 19 January 27 January 28

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Junior Ring Ceremony 6:30 pm Junior Ring Dance 8:00 -11:00 pm Christmas Concert 7:00 pm 12:00 pm Dismissal, Faculty Christmas Social Christmas Break Begins; Regular 2:35 pm Student Dismissal Christmas Break Begins 2:35 pm Classes Resume, A-Day Second quarter Ends Mid-Term Exams; 11:30 am Dismissal (All Students must be in proper uniform) Conflicts/Make-up Exams; 8:10 am – 11:30 pm School Closed, Teacher Work Day School Closed Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Third Quarter Begins Tri-M Inductions 6:30 pm Auditorium Report Cards Distributed

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Admissions ~ Mr. Thomas E. Miller

Our Open House attendance was 8% above last year! The feedback has been tremendous. Thank you again to all of the students, parents, alumni, coaches, staff, faculty, and administrators who helped to make the day such a success, including our incredible Tour Guides, Band, and String Ensemble. Admissions/Placement “HSPT” testing takes place at Archbishop Spalding High School Saturday, December 5th, 2009 for all applicants to the class of 2014 who are not students in elementary schools of the Archdiocese of Washington. The test is also offered at a number of other schools the following Saturday, December 12th. A list of those sites is available through www. archbalt.org/schools. Registration takes place from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. followed by testing for approximately three hours from the time of registration. A $30.00 processing fee is payable by cash or check (payable to: ASHS). There is no pre-registration for the test unless special accommodations are being requested due to a documented/diagnosed learning difference. Requests for accommodations must have been submitted and approved prior to the test date. Prospective students can choose three schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and/or the Archdiocese of Washington to receive results of the admissions/placement test. Applicants who are currently students in elementary/ middle schools of the Archdiocese of Washington will take the test in their current school and indicate Archbishop Spalding High School as one of their choices to receive a copy of the results. Students who take the test in the Archdiocese of Washington will be charged (by the Washington archdiocese) an additional fee to have the results sent to any school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It is important to note that any student taking the test in the Washington archdiocese will have no option when designating schools but to indicate Spalding as their third choice high school. Thus, it is important for those students to contact the admissions office if Archbishop Spalding High School ranks higher than 3rd on an applicant’s list of preferred schools. A reminder... January 6, 2010 is the deadline for submission of Applications for Admission to the class of 2014 (including all related paperwork i.e. recommendations, transcripts, scholarship applications, etc.). Link to all required forms at archbishopspalding.org/published/ admissions. January 6th is also the deadline for need-based financial assistance applications for both prospective and returning students. That application is completed on-line at sss.nais.org. Our school code is 1355. You need to reapplly every year for Financial Aid Funds.

Cavalier Club ~ We Need Your Ideas!

The Cavalier Club introduced new levels of membership for the 2009/2010 season. The membership drive has been successful with the introduction of different levels of participation. New tiers of membership include reserved parking spots, Cavalier Club jackets, chairs and a tailgate reception for the final football game. The reception was a great success. The highlight of the party was the crab soup! Family memberships are still available and forms can be found on the ASHS Cavalier Club website. This year the Cavalier Club is taking a lead role in organizing events and tournaments that can directly benefit the Athletic Department and team budgets. We have been working closely with coaches to try and develop ideas that can provide money directly back to the individual teams. The teams can then use this money to offset the costs of special items or team trips. We are asking for the help of parents to make these ideas work. The basic structure is that the coaches come to the Cavalier Club with an idea for an event. The Cavalier Club discusses the feasibility with the Athletic Department and we pick an open date. After we have a blueprint and game plan, we take the idea to the Spalding Administration for final approval and financial terms. The Cavalier Club currently has approval for three events this year. We will hold a Bull Roast on January 23rd in the new gym. We will be selling tickets right after the students return from Christmas break. Entire tables as well as individual tickets will be sold. This is a great opportunity for teams to get together and support Spalding Athletics. On January 30th we will host a Cheerleading Tournament in both gyms. Last year, Spalding allowed an outside company to host the tournament and the day generated a lot of money with the school only getting a rental fee. This year we will do the extra work and not have a partner. All funds earned will stay at Spalding. The last event planned is the Mulch Drive. This will by far be our biggest endeavor and we should have the largest financial return for all the teams that participate. The basic idea is that the Cavalier Club will have the students sell bags of mulch. One dollar from each bag will go to the student’s chosen team budget. We will start taking orders for the bags in late February with distribution in March. The students that sell the bags will be responsible to help distribute the bags. Our goal is to sell 30,000 bags. More information will follow in January. The Cavalier Club was able to make the first payment on our $250,000 field pledge. We now will have to start saving for the construction of the new snack shack and bathrooms. We hope to break ground during the summer and have construction completed before the start of school next year. We are still working on final plans so we don’t have the costs confirmed. We do know these planned events and tournaments will have to be a success for us to continue to grow. Thank you for your support of the Cavalier Club. We are interrseted in your ideas and support. The Cavalier Club meets the first Tuesday of each month. Please bring us your ideas and thank you for your help.

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Campus Ministry Fr. Tom Ryan, Chaplain Mrs. Kathy Mayer, Campus Minister Mrs. Caitlin Boyle, Director of Service/Religion Teacher Thank you…To the families that donated blankets to the Blanket Drive during the month of November! We continue to have an on-going collection of clean, gently used men’s clothing, for the Franciscan Center, which our sophomore students take with them during their day of Service. Thank you in advance for your support! Students/parents may place these items on the bench outside the Campus Ministry office up until March 25th. Senior Service Requirement….All Seniors need to have completed and submitted their required Service Hour documentation and reflection on or before Friday, January 08, 2010. Looking for Service Opportunities….On-going approved Service Opportunities are posted on the Archbishop Spalding WEB site (www. archbishopspalding.org). Click students then Campus Ministry. You will access a page requesting you to click Campus Ministry once again. Once you click “Documents”, you will have the ability to access and/or download several documents, included “Approved Outreach Opportunities”. You may download these documents and save them to your Computer to simplify recording your hours – paper copies are also available on the table outside Campus Ministry. It is good to periodically submit your completed hours to Campus Ministry to be recorded and posted. Looking for the Service Record Form?...This may also be downloaded from the ASHS site. Again, click students, then Campus Ministry and follow the documents link to “Service Record Form” which also “spells out” the student’s requirement. Stocking the Sarah’s House Shed…During the month of February, we will be holding a collection for Sarah’s house, similar to the collection held last year during the fall. They are in need of many items for families moving into transitional housing and new homes of their own. Their needs are: furniture items (lamps, dressers, end tables, coffee tables, kitchen tables and chairs), new bathroom items (towels and bath mats), kitchen items (cooking utensils, measuring cups, flatware, glass casserole dishes, pots and pans) and gift cards to Target or Walmart. Students/parents may place these items on the bench/in the area outside the Campus Ministry office up until the end of February. We ask that if you bring gift cards, please hand them to someone in the Campus Ministry office or leave them in the office marked in an envelope for Sarah’s House. For larger furniture items, please contact Gail Fritsch at [email protected] to arrange drop of or pick up. Thank you! Christmas Liturgy… On Thursday, December 17th, we will join with our Chaplain, Fr. Tom Ryan in school-wide Liturgy giving thanks to God for the gift of this holy season. Rally , Mass and March for Life….in Washington, D.C. is Friday, January 22, 2010. As it becomes available, additional information, permission forms, etc. will be provided through announcements/ may be obtained through Campus Ministry. Catholic Schools Week….we will concelebrate with our Chaplain, Fr. Tom Ryan on Tuesday, February, 2, 2010, commemorating Catholic School s Week – “Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, Morals – Dividends for Life”. This is a school wide Liturgy. Senior Retreat…”Relationships: God, Family, Friends”. The listing for the remaining Senior Retreats is posted on the bulletin board in the hallway by the Campus Ministry office. Students depart ASHS by bus on Wednesday @3PM and return to school prior to dismissal on Friday. Information packets are mailed home to parents/guardians in advance of the students assigned Retreat. Please feel free to stop by Campus Ministry, email mayerk@ archbishopspalding,.org or call 410-969-9105 ext. 236 with any questions. Sophomore Service Dates…Each student participates in a day of service as part of their sophomore year. The majority of dates are assigned by homeroom. Sophomores go to their first period class and are called down to the Chapel. Following an orientation, the group departs and is separated into three separate groups, all accompanied by a moderator, serving at Our Daily Bread, Beans & Bread, and Franciscan Center. Upon return, the students share lunch and reflect on their experience. The remaining dates by homeroom are as follows: 12/3/2009, Ms. Lisa Walker 12/15/2009, Dr. Jennifer Jones 1/28/2009, Mr. Andy Bauer 2/9/2010, Mrs. Melanie Esposito 2/25/2010, Ms. Stephanie Walsh Questions…[email protected] [email protected] orgiveusacall410-969-9105ext.236(Kathy),ext.345(Caitlin). “Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name”

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Guidance Department ~ Mrs. Cheryl S. Ventura Exams Semester exams begin one week after students return from Christmas break. These tests cover the work of the entire semester and begin on January 11, 2010. The dates with the specific subjects and times are listed on the January page of the calendar in the student handbook. Students should plan a realistic study schedule during the weekend prior to exams as well as each afternoon and evening during exam week. Students who have a part time job may want to adjust their work schedule so that they can prepare adequately during exams. Most employers are cooperative with adjusting work schedules when they know that the student has school as a priority. Extended Time for Midterm Exams Students who have already been approved for extended time testing must complete a request sheet indicating the exams for which they are using extended time.  Request sheets will be distributed the week of December 7th and are due to the Aquinas Director by December 9th.   The extended exam times are as follows:  1st Exam 7:25-9:40; 2nd Exam 10:00-12:15.  Please contact Jeanine Kandrac, Director of the Aquinas program, with any questions.  410-969-9105 x264; [email protected] Extended Time Accommodations at Spalding To qualify for extended time on school based tests, a student must present recent (within three years) professional documentation to the ASHS Testing committee for review.  (To qualify for upcoming midterms, the Testing committee must receive documentation by Dec. 1st.)Approval for extended time at Spalding does not guarantee this accommodation on standardized tests such as PSAT, SAT, ACT or AP exams.  Please contact Jeanine Kandrac, Director of the Aquinas program, with any questions.  410-969-9105 x264; [email protected] Ninth Grade Student/Parent Meeting On Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the auditorium, we will host a meeting for ninth graders and their parents to meet with the Guidance department to address the topic of course planning for tenth grade. “Planning My Spalding Academic Schedule” will include information on how to plan for each of the upcoming three years in order to fulfill the requirements for graduation, but also how to best prepare for college requirements and expectations for admissions. The snow date for this meeting will be Thursday, January 28, 2010. This will be an important meeting for all ninth graders. At least one parent is asked to attend with the student. Course of study booklets listing the course offerings for next year will be given out. This meeting precedes the actual sign-up for tenth grade classes. Attending this meeting will make the whole process clearer and easier for parents and students. Eleventh Grade Student/Parent Meeting Members of the eleventh grade and their parents are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the auditorium. “Starting the College Search and Selection Process” will be addressed. All Junior’s and at least one parent should attend. Juniors who are working after school and evenings should make arrangements so they are not working that evening and will be available to attend the meeting. Employers are most willing to rearrange work schedules when they know that the student needs to attend a school meeting. The snow date for this meeting will be Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the same time. College Application Deadlines Because of the volume of applications that need to be processed by the Guidance Department, the counselors request that all seniors follow the guidelines/procedures passed out in the September meeting. For example, applications and transcript requests that need to be processed before Christmas or before January 1, 2010 need to be submitted before November 20, 2009. Seniors are reminded to make their counselor appointments early. The counselors’ schedules can fill up quickly. Scholarship Information The Guidance Department receives information for a variety of scholarships throughout the year. Some of these are offered by local and national companies and organizations. The information is posted on the white board in the Guidance Office and can also be accessed on the school website by clicking on “Students”, then “Guidance”. Seniors need to check these resources regularly to keep themselves updated as to what opportunities are available. Sallie Mae’s Free Online Scholarship Search is available through www.salliemae.com. This is one of the most respected and comprehensive lists of awards available to high school students. At the site click on Planning for College and then go to “finding free money”. The scholarship search can be accessed in that area of the site. FASTWEB is another database of scholarship information where students can conduct a scholarship search. The address is www.fastweb.com. Information to better understand financial aid is also available online. Financial Aid 101 is available through the Sallie Mae website. FinAid, the Financial Aid Information Page located at www.finaid.org is a comprehensive and objective guide to information on loans and sources of financial aid. Responses from Colleges When seniors receive college decisions they should notify their counselor immediately. Email is an excellent way to communicate this information. Also, if a scholarship is offered, the letter should be photocopied and brought to the Guidance office. Student Absence When students are absent for an extended period of time such as a week or more, parents may contact the guidance counselor to ask for assistance in gathering academic work. A more direct method, however, is to email the teachers directly. The email of all faculty members can be accessed from the website or it follows the pattern of [email protected]. For shorter absences, students should consult their syllabus and contact a classmate who has information on what has been happening in the classes. In addition, when the student returns to school they might photocopy a classmate’s notebook as well as speak directly and promptly to the teacher about which tasks need to be made up and when the teacher will be expecting the work to be completed.

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Parents’ Association Meetings Our next meeting on Tuesday, December 8 will focus on financial aid and scholarships for college. We will have a speaker from the Maryland Higher Education Commission to talk about the FAFSA, state aid and scholarships available for Maryland residents, federal student loans and other necessary information. If you have a student applying to college, you won’t want to miss this. The meeting will be held at 7:00 pm in the Library. Looking ahead to January, our meeting will be on Tuesday, January 12 and will feature Mr. Patrick Brady, chair of the Religion Department here at Spalding, talking about his newly-published book Walk Confidently with God: A Practical Guide to Living a Debt-Free, Stress-Free Life. I am sure we could all use that knowledge after the Holiday season. Please join us in the Library at 7:00 pm. Hospitality Thanks to the parents, including Sharon Bogdan, Susan Caldwell, Dawn Ducoty, Maureen Dustin, Stephanie Eberly, Lisa Fenton, Judith Green, Tina Greis, Mary Inscoe, Jayne McDonald, Carmen Mulea, Barb Perez, Ellen Pulto, JoLynn Reda, Lynn Supplee and Maureen Vernon who helped serve dinner and brought desserts to the dinner for the college representatives on October 19 before the College Fair. The representatives were very happy to get a meal before meeting with the students. Thanks also to all the parents who helped out at Open House on October 25. Julie McHale coordinated the event and had more than 100 parents donate baked goods, serve refreshments and serve as tour guides. There are too many names to list here individually but please know that we appreciate the great support and could not host events of this magnitude without your help! Special thanks also to Mary Cofran and Valerie Washington who coordinated dinner for the teachers during the Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 19. They were helped by several volunteers who served the dinner and helped with set-up and clean-up. Giant, Safeway, Target and Office Depot Programs Last year we had over 700 participants in the Giant program. This year we have had less than 300 sign-up. In the Safeway Escrip program, we have over 500 parents who have not re-enrolled. PLEASE renew your signups for this year and designate Archbishop Spalding as your school of choice. To sign up for the Giant A+ program, go to www.giant.com/aplus. The school code for ASHS is 01172. To sign up your Safeway card, go to www.escrip. com. The school code for ASHS is 6642757. If you would rather send your card numbers to the Parents’ Association, we will gladly sign-up your cards for you. Please send your name and card numbers to [email protected]. You may also register your Target credit card, Target Visa card or a Target check card at www.target.com/tcoe. The ASHS school code is 7858. ASHS will receive 1% of your purchases made at Target using any of the cards and ½% of purchases made anywhere else using the Target Visa card. ASHS will also receive 5% of your purchases at Office Depot if you give them our school name and ID#70047318 at the check out counter. Please help us to take advantage of all these offers. The dollars really add up! If you have any questions about any of these programs, please contact Greta Bill or June Lawson at [email protected]. 2009 – 2010 Remaining Meeting Dates: December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 20, May 11 Questions? Ideas? Please contact: Amy Stolarski – President - [email protected] Valerie Washington – Vice-President - [email protected] Julie McHale – Treasurer - [email protected] Anna Johnston – Secretary - [email protected] You may also find additional information about our activities at our website www.ashsteacher.org/pa.

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Computer Engineering Students re-create Game Operation ~ Mrs. Amy Brunner Remember the game Operation? Our computer engineering students not only remember the game, but they created their own version of the game during a recent lab. Our budding engineers explored the world of electrical engineering by wiring their own parallel circuits in order to recreate the battery-powered game. Steady hands not only help you beat the game, but create the game, too. Our engineers put their hands to work by meticulously wiring together resistors, lights, buzzers, and batteries to work with the game board. The game board was outfitted with aluminum foil and machine screws to serve as conductors for the electrical current. Although the objective of the game is to extract the object without triggering the buzzer and light, in our lab, the sweet sound of the buzzer and the flashing light meant success for our engineers. Next year, the computer engineering class will join the new engineering program, Project Lead the Way, which will be coming to Spalding next year.

It’s Academic Taking it to Silver Spring.... Our Academic Bowl Team (ABT) proved to be quite a force at the recent academic challenge held on 14 November in Silver Spring, MD. The tournament was sponsored by Blake High School and our Cavs demolished teams from the following high schools: Oakland Mills, Flowers, Wilde Lake, and Georgetown. They represented Spalding’s academic prowess with ease. To watch our team in action, be sure and tune in on 13 Feb ‘10 at 1000 a.m. to the WJZ-TV Channel 13-sponsored “It’s Academic” show!!

ABT--Top Row (left to right): Dan Brady, John Vernon, Mikey Collins Brian Petrosky; Bottom Row (left to right): Eddie Millsap, Robert Bacaj, and Matt Hedin Josh Zellner-Fing demonstrates his superb hand-eye coordination.

Mark your calendars for Basket Bingo hosted by the Graduate Mother’s Association (GMA) on Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. For more information or to volunteer email [email protected].

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The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Think Before Posting: A Call to Social Networking Accontabiliy ~ Mr. Justin Hibbard Imagine that the State driving age was changed to 12, or 13, or 14 and that these young drivers were no longer to take driver’s education classes or have provisional licenses. I imagine you’re thinking the same thing I am – cars in the hands of the uneducated and immature are recipes for disaster. As useful as cars are, drivers still need nurturing to learn how to drive such a powerful tool with care and responsibility. The same is true with the internet. From computers to cell phones, it has never been easier to communicate and share information about ourselves. But in immature and unsupervised hands, these misused tools easily become weapons that leave a trail of destruction and devastation. Miranda Jackson, a 16-year-old cheerleader from Mississippi’s Pearl High School was kicked off the squad and suspended after school officials found out about “profanity-laced, private conversations” she had on Facebook aimed at school officials and the politics of the cheerleading squad. Using World of Warcraft (WoW), a 20-year-old male from Canada began chatting with a 16-year-old female, but went to her high school soon after to meet her face-to-face. Fortunately, she had the presence of mind to tell school officials. When the police apprehended the stalker, they discovered that he had been posing as the girl- using her pictures from MySpace and WoW. At Farmington Junior High School, in Utah, a handful of 13 and 14-year-old students were trading nude photos of themselves via their cell phones. Police were contacted by a parent who reportedly found sexually explicit photos (essentially child pornography) on her child’s cell phone. The school district acted swiftly in disciplining the students. Last July, 14-year- old, Chanelle Rae took her life after receiving an internet message earlier on the night of her death. While in the midst of some rocky relationships with her friends, one of them sent her a message that made her “want to die.” Police blamed cyber bullying for her suicide. These are just a few real stories of online irresponsibility and carelessness that had profound repercussions. More and more, we read of students being expelled, having their college acceptance revoked, or like in the case of many adults, getting fired for cyber conversations and postings. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of their child’s cyber activity, and in some cases, that child is putting himself or another at risk by cyberbullying, posting indecent photos, or giving out too much information. Recently I was confronted by a Spalding mom who was concerned at some of the Facebook postings of a few of our students. She explained how she is trying to raise her son to respect women, but there were a few girls who were posting compromising pictures and sexually explicit messages. This epidemic, hopefully contained to just a few students, is certainly a problem caused by both girls and boys. The answer to these problems, in most cases, is to redeem the communication medium by educating, setting expectations, and holding children accountable. At Spalding, we believe that the internet, social networking, and text messages are very useful tools, but we also want students to be aware of how to use them appropriately. Starting in January, I will be giving a social network responsibility presentation in various classes in an effort to make students aware of their actions and help them to think before posting. As a Catholic institution, we believe that following Christ is a call all day and everyday – not just during religion class or at Mass. Our call as Christians extends from heaven to earth to cyberspace. Though I hope and pray these presentations will be beneficial, what you do at home will be of greatest importance. Let me challenge you to check up on your child’s virtual activity. Requiring your child to log in to their Facebook account and navigate through their postings as well as their friends’ while you observe (or requiring them to give you their password) is no more of an invasion of privacy than sitting in the passenger seat while your child drives. It is a necessary level of accountability to help train your child. Furthermore, checking up on your child’s text messages via their cell phone, cell phone bill, or other account features that your carrier provides allows you to ensure that they are using their plans wisely and are not hurting others and not being hurt themselves. Lastly, I encourage parents and students to hold each other accountable by reporting any inappropriate, malicious, or alarming tweets, posts, texts, etc. to our Assistant Principles –Kaycie Lomax and Bill Weber or another student counselor. It is our mission to provide a safe, godly, nurturing environment for each student and the peace of mind for each parent entrusting their child in our care. Together we can help train students to use these valuable tech tools maturely and responsibly, but it will take all of us to do so.

Attention Parents and Alumni: Archbishop Spalding now has an “official” Facebook page.  Please visit our school website www.archbishopspalding.org to access the link and stay connected with old friends, get info on upcoming events, etc. It’s a wonderful new way to keep in touch with old friends and to stay updated on all of the exciting news here at Archbishop Spalding.

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Engaging Faith & Learning

The Cavalier • December 2009 / January 2010 Athletics ~ Mr. Lee R. Dove

Financial Aid

Upcoming Events

The deadline for ALL Financial Aid applications is Wednesday, January 6th, 2010. To be considered for the funds available you must complete your online registration by the January 6th date. If you are already receiving Financial Aid you must reapply each year to receive these funds.

Coaches are reminded about the Positive Coaching Alliance Workshop to be held on Monday November 23rd at 6:30 in the cafeteria. The theme of this workshop will be “Developing Triple Impact Competitors”. There will be a mandatory meeting for all Varsity Head Coaches to meet with the Athletic Director and other school administrators, on December 17th at 6:30 in the auditorium. Out of season and summertime activities will be the topic of discussion. A Positive Coaching Alliance workshop for athletes and one for parents will both be held on Wednesday April 21st , 2010. Specific information about these two sessions will be sent out in the near future. With the onset of the Holiday season soon upon us, I ‘d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the entire Archbishop Spalding community, for your support of the athletic program. May this holiday season bring good health, peace and prosperity to you and yours!

Apply online at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss , our school code is 1355. Please make a copy of everything submitted for your own records. If you have any questions while filling out these forms, please call NAIS direct at 202-973-9700 or email [email protected] . If you have any questions regarding the process here at Spalding please feel free to contact Heide Cornet –Hostelley at corneth@archbishopspalding. org or call 410-969-9105 extension 266. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season!!

Inside this Cavalier Issue is the Spalding Spring Sensation Donation form. Please return this form to the Office of Advancement or fax to 410-969-2368. Help make this year’s Auction a HUGE success!!

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Archbishop Spalding High School 8080 New Cut Road ~ Severn, MD. 21144

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The Cavalier

December 2009 / January 2010

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SPALDING’S 10TH ANNUAL SPRING SENSATION

“Bella Italia” Saturday March 27, 2010 Our committee is already working hard to make this a successful auction.  Proceeds will benefit technology, the arts and athletics. We welcome you to join us in our endeavor by soliciting or donating items (vacation homes, services, gift certificates) and helping decorate in the new year there is something we all can do to make this a fabulous success! Contact the Advancement Office 410-969-91065 ext. 242 or 243