Opera, Puppy Love, Art, Debate, and More

Saint Mary’s High students and faculty have enjoyed a myriad of volunteer, educational, cultural, artistic, and spiritual activities recently, on campus and around the Bay Area. Members of the school’s Congress Team (photo) qualified for the Catholic National Contest in Sacramento in May with their speech and debate performances at the first-ever Oakland Diocesan National Catholic Forensic League Qualifier Tournament at St. Joseph High School, Alameda on January 30. Also in Alameda on January 31, a number of students and faculty enjoyed the performance of the school’s Choral Director, Elliott Nguyen (SM Class of 2008) in the Island City Opera’s production of ”Rigoletto” (photo). Student artwork is currently on display at Espresso Roma Cafe on Hopkins and Monterey in Berkeley (photo), and on February 17, students will again gift their long ponytails to ”Making the Cut.” Last year, two dozen students donated yards and yards of precious hair. In late January, students and faculty volunteered at the Milo Foundation, a no-kill shelter in Point Richmond (photo). Freshmen and Sophomores visited the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park last week as part of the Winter Term Lasallian Days (photo).

Saint Mary’s annual Crab Feed on February 6 is sold out! Don’t miss the Performing Arts Department production of ”Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on February 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 7:00 pm and February 14 and 21 at 2:00 pm in the school auditorium. Tickets are $10 for all ages and may be purchased at the door.

Saint Mary’s Grammar School Class of 1955 and High School Class of 1959 alumnus Paul Kantner (Web image Examiner.com), co-founder of Jefferson Airplane, who died on January 28, shared the following reflection in a 2002 interview for a special music edition of the school magazine: “I always have a fond part of my heart for the bells of Saint Mary’s. I got a good education there that has served me remarkably well.” Kantner was the classmate of fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Tom Fogerty, Saint Mary’s High Class of 1959 and co-founder of Creedence Clearwater.