St. Augustine High School 3266 Nutmeg Street

San Diego, CA 92104-5199619-282-2184

www.sahs.org

Dear Parents and Friends

Get a Fresh Start – Motivate!

There’s something to be said about getting a fresh start on things. Whether it’s mov-ing your computer to the other side of the

desk, finally getting around to cleaning the ga-rage, rearranging the furniture, or whatever… it feels good to change things up a little. But, just after the holiday rush, finding the motivation to start anew can be challenging. Students need motivation to learn. Yet, keeping students interested in school and mo-

tivating them to succeed are challenges that present themselves year after year to even the most seasoned teachers and parents. High levels of motivation and engagement in learning have con-sistently been linked to increased levels of student success. Although the link between engagement and achievement may seem obvious, this issue frequently slips through the cracks in discussions about school/student improvement, yielding right of way to chatter about test scores and the rigors of curriculum. Parents and teachers alike can and do affect students’ level of engagement in learning. Simply put, by helping to build healthy self-esteem and self confidence, we give them a foundation for success, which in turn fosters motivation and engagement in school. Get a fresh start this New Year: take some time to motivate your student by sharing with him just how deeply you believe in him.

Yours in the Spirit of Catholic Education,

James HornePrincipal

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Continued on page 3.

With the beginning of the New Year focus begins to shift to the Explore Entrance Exam for prospective

students on Saturday, January 22nd at 8:30

Q&A with Mike Croke

Parent VolunteerAnswers Questions

About Saints Family Service Hours

Mike Croke is another of a long line of volunteers, who contributes hours of dedicated service to the

school. Mike’s task is to record your Family Involvement hours. He’s the chief accountant for volunteer hours. Saints Scene recently asked him to respond to frequently asked questions from parents and to provide answers.

Q. How many hours do I need each year?A. Each family pledges to do 25 hours via the summer downloaded documents. There was another document that asked you if you had a special talent or event or events you wish to participate in.

Q. Who can I ask about a list of upcoming events?A. Jill Dominguez alexjill@cox.net.

Q. If I performed volunteer work through my employer, do those hours count?A. No they have to have something to do within the Saints community.

Q. If I carpool my son and some classmates to a practice or event, do those hours count?A. If they are participating in a event, those hours count. You have to have more than just your son for those hours to count.

Q. Can I Do 100 hours in my first year and be done?A. No, we ask for 25 each year, however any-thing over and above is greatly appreciated.

Q. How can I be sure my hours arerecorded?A. Ask for the sign-in sheet, sign your name, your son’s name (as it appears on school roster, no nicknames), student class year, the time you start and finish.

Q. How will I know I received credit for hours worked?A. Sometime after the end of each quarter I will send you an Email with your total so far.

Admissions Director OffersPointers for Parents & Applicants

School Entrance ExamsLater this Month

Principal James Horne

January 2011 Vol 30 no. 5YOUR MONTHLY REPORT ON THE ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

Saints Scene

am. In preparation for the test there are a few important points to remember:1. The best way to prepare for the test is to be diligent with your work in the 8th grade.2. If you would like to get a feel for the types of questions asked on the Explore exam you may visit the website at www.act.org/explore.3. Calculators are allowed on the test and will be provided by Saints.4. #2 pencils will be provided by Saints.5. The test will last approximately 3 hours which includes a snack and stretch break (snacks provided by Saints).6. It is best not to “cram” the day before the exam. Be sure to get a good night of sleep the night before and remember that the exam is only one part of the Admissions process. Student applications are accepted up to and including the day of the test on the 22nd of January. Good luck to all of you and if there are specific questions please contact Director of Admissions Mike Haupt at mhaupt@sahs.org

School’s Cool Yule – The talents of the St. Augustine High School Music Department were spotlighted at the annual Christmas Concert last month. By tradition, the Christmas Concert was open to the public and the Saints Community. A nice sized audience came to enjoy the holiday performance by the students. Ably led by Mr. Brandon Jagow, Saints holiday concert continues to be a welcome tradition at the school. Next month, Saints Scene will publish a photo essay highlighting Saints Marching Band & Pageantry Corps, Symphonic Band and 32nd St. Jazz Band. Pictured Left to right]: The 32nd St. Jazz Band Saxophone Section. Broth-er Barnaby Johns, O.S.A., John Taylor (‘13), Nicholas Morrell (‘12), John Dompor (‘12), Max Nelson (‘13), Edwin Corpus Jr. (‘12 - not pictured).

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For the New YearPRAYER FOR MY SAINTSMAN SON

Loving Father, Please guide my son to always do Your will; allow him to see what is really important, and remind him how much I love him. Send good and wholesome friends into his life, keep him safe, bless him with good health, and give him the courage to do the right thing when difficult or tempting choices cross his path. Make my son strong in character, rich in sympathy, and generous in spirit. Bless him with a gentle nature, and a kind heart. Let him become a man committed to the Gospel of Your Son Jesus. Grant him a lasting faith, and lead him to a profound love for You, his family, and him-self.

Amen. --Prayer by Rev. John R. Sanders, OSA (’66).

Christmas Concert Well Attended, Appreciated

Editor’s Note: Pope Benedict continues the discussion of the life and importance of Augustine in his General Audi-ence of January 16, 2008. Serial adaptation of the Holy Father’s words were made by Saints Chaplain Fr. Bob Gavotto, O.S.A., (’55).

Today, I would like to talk about the great Bishop of Hippo, St Augustine, who chose to appoint his successor four years before he died.

Thus, on September 26, 426, he gathered the people in the Basilica of Peace at Hippo to present to the faithful the one he had designated for this task. He said: “In this life we are all mortal, and the day which shall be the last of life on earth is to every man at all times uncertain; but in infancy there is hope of entering boyhood… looking forward from boyhood to youth, from youth to manhood and from manhood to old age; whether these hopes may be realized or not is uncertain, but there is in each case something which may be hoped for. But old age has no other period of this life to look forward to with expectation: in any case, how long old age may be prolonged is uncertain…. I came to this town – for such was the will of God – when I was in the prime of life. I was young then, but now I am old” (Ep 213, 1). At this point Augustine named the person he had chosen as his successor, the presbyter Heraclius. The assembly burst into an applause of approval, shouting 23 times, “To God be thanks! To Christ be praise!”. With other acclamations the faithful also approved what Augustine proposed for his future: he wanted to dedi-cate the years that were left to him to a more intense study of Sacred Scripture (cf. Ep 213, 6). Indeed, what followed were four years of extraordinary intellectual activ-ity: he brought important works to conclusion, he embarked on others, equally demanding, held public debates with heretics – he was always seeking dialogue – and intervened to foster peace in the African provinces threatened by barbarian southern tribes. He wrote about this to Count Darius, who had come to Africa to settle the disagreement between Boniface and the imperial court which the tribes of Mau-ritania were exploiting for their incursions: “It is a higher glory still”, he said in his letter, “to stay war itself with a word, than to slay men with the sword, and to procure or maintain peace by peace, not by war. For those who fight, if they are good men, doubtlessly seek peace; nevertheless, it is through blood. Your mis-sion, however, is to prevent the shedding of blood” (Ep 229, 2). Unfortunately, the hope of pacification in the African territories was disappointed; in May 429, the Vandals, whom out of spite Boniface had invited to Africa, passed the straits of Gibraltar and streamed into Mauritania. The invasion rapidly reached the other rich African provinces. In May or June 430, “the destroyers of the Roman Em-pire”, as Possidius described these barbarians (Vita 30, 1), were surrounding and besieging Hippo.

Fr. Bob Gavotto OSA (’55)

Boniface had also sought refuge in the city. Having been reconciled with the court too late, he was now trying in vain to block the invaders’ entry. Possidius, Augustine’s biographer, describes Augustine’s sorrow: “More tears than usual were his bread, night, and day, and when he had reached the very end of his life, his old age caused him, more than others, grief and mourning” (Vita 28,6). And he explains: “Indeed, that man of God saw the massacres and the destruction of the city; houses in the countryside were pulled down and the inhabitants killed by the enemy or put to flight and dispersed. Private churches belonging to priests and ministers were demol-ished, sacred virgins and Religious scattered on every side; some died under torture, others were killed by the sword, still others taken prisoner, losing the integrity of their soul and body and even their faith, reduced by their enemies to a long, drawn-out and painful slavery” (ibid., 28, 8). Despite being old and weary, Augustine stood in the breach, comforting himself and others with prayer and meditation on the mysterious designs of Providence. In this regard, he spoke on the “old-age of the world” – and this Roman world was truly old - he spoke of this old age as years earlier he had spoken to comfort the refugees from Italy when Alaric’s Goths had invaded the city of Rome in 410. In his old age, he said, ailments prolifer-ate: coughs, catarrh, bleary eyes, anxiety and exhaustion. Yet, if the world grows old, Christ is perpetually young; hence, the invitation: “Do not refuse to be rejuvenated united to Christ, even in the old world. He tells you: Do not fear, your youth will be renewed like that of the eagle” (cf. Serm. 81, 8). Thus, the Christian must not lose heart, even in dif-ficult situations, but rather he must spare no effort to help those in need. This is what the great doctor suggested in his response to Honoratus, Bishop of Tiabe, who had asked him whether a Bishop or a priest or any man of the Church with the barbarians hot on his heels could flee to save his life: “When danger is common to all, that is, for Bishops, clerics and lay people, may those who need others not be abandoned by the people whom they need. In this case, let all depart together to safe places or let those who must remain not be deserted by those through whom, in things pertaining to the Church, their necessities must be provided for; and so let them share life in common, or share in common that which the Father of their family appoints them to suffer” (Ep 228, 2). And he concluded: “Such conduct is especially the proof of love” (ibid., 3). How can we fail to recognize in these words the heroic message that so many priests down the centuries have welcomed and made their own? In the meantime, the city of Hippo resisted. Augustine’s monastery-home had opened its doors to welcome episcopal colleagues who were asking for hospitality. Also of his number was Possidius, a former disciple of Augustine; he was able to leave us his direct testimony of those last dra-matic days. “In the third month of that siege”, Possidius recounts, “Augus-tine took to his bed with a fever: it was his last illness” (Vita, 29, 3). The holy old man made the most of that period when he was at last free to dedicate himself with greater intensity to prayer. He was in the habit of saying that no one, Bishop, Religious or layman, however irreprehensible his conduct might seem, can face death without adequate repentance. For this reason he ceaselessly repeated between his tears, the penitential psalms he had so often recited with his people (cf. ibid., 31, 2). The worse his illness became, the more the dying Bishop felt the need for solitude and prayer: “In order that no one might disturb him in his recol-lection, about ten days before leaving his body, he asked those of us present not to let anyone into his room outside the hours in which the doctors came to visit him or when his meals were brought. His desire was minutely com-plied with and in all that time he devoted himself to prayer” (ibid., 31,3). He breathed his last on August 28, 430: his great heart rested at last in God. “For the last rites of his body”, Possidius informs us, “the sacrifice in which we took part was offered to God and then he was buried” (Vita, 31, 5). His body on an unknown date was translated to Sardinia, and from there, in about 725, to the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro in Pavia, where it still rests today. His first biographer has this final opinion of him: “He bequeathed to his Church a very numerous clergy and also monasteries of men and women full of people who had taken vows of chastity under the obedience of their superiors, as well as libraries containing his books and discourses and those of other saints, from which one learns what, through the grace of God, were his merits and greatness in the Church, where the faithful always find him alive” (Possidius, Vita, 31, 8). This is an opinion in which we can share. We too “find him alive” in his writings. When I read St Augustine’s writings, I do not get the impression that he is a man who died more or less 1,600 years ago; I feel he is like a man of today: a friend, a contemporary who speaks to me, who speaks to us with his fresh and timely faith. In St Augustine who talks to us, talks to me in his writings, we see the everlasting timeliness of his faith; of the faith that comes from Christ, the Eternal Incarnate Word, Son of God and Son of Man. And we can see that this faith is not of the past although it was preached yesterday; it is still timely today, for Christ is truly yesterday, today and forever. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thus, St Augustine encourages us to entrust ourselves to this ever-living Christ and in this way find the path of life.

— Benedict XVISt. Augustine, pray for us.

A U G U S T I N I A N H E R I T A G E

Augustine in the Words of Pope Benedict XVIPart 5

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Saints GrandparentsS a v e t h e D a t e

You Are InvitedTo be our Guests!

23rd AnnualSt. Augustine High School

Grandparents’ Day CelebrationFebruary 11, 2011

at 10:45 AMGrandparents and those who serve as

Grandparents may meet their Grandsonsin Keane Plaza at 10:45 am

Main Gate as you enter from Nutmeg Street or our Underground Parking Structure

3266 Nutmeg Street

10:45 AM Grandsons will take theirGrandparents on a tour of the campus

Followed by Mass at 11:30 on Tolle Lege Patio (Dress Warmly)

Photos will be taken ofGrandparents with their Grandson

in Vasey Patio prior to and after Mass

We look forward to seeing you there!

Grandparents and Grandsons are encouragedto share lunch together off campus after Mass.Gr

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Now in its third year, Intersession is the four-week period following the Christmas break where Sophomore thru Senior students take a crash course in a variety of dif-

ferent subjects of their choosing. By tradition Freshmen will be assigned a very useful dose of Speech during Intersession month. The rest have selected from a variety of interesting and chal-lenging courses ranging from cooking and architecture to even professional internships. It’s a rare chance for students to try an experience in an area of life they may have never been given a chance to try otherwise. The idea of Intersession was spurred on by Saints’ evolv-ing mission of wanting to prepare young men for college. “We wanted Saintsmen to have a way of challenging themselves in new and productive ways,” Mr. Cudal explains. “Intersession

INTERSESSION UNDER WAY

Popular Outreach Intern Program allows us to provide experiences to our students that give them a chance to try out new skills. It helps them gain an understanding of the college experience.” adds Cudal. Some of the courses offered include photography, professional magazine production, cooking, architec-ture, photography and even classes studied abroad. At the end of the four weeks, students will have evidence of their hard work in various ways. The film and pho-tography students will boast an artist’s portfolio, the cooks become chef’s with expertise in daily cuisine, and the engineering students get to show off their inventions at the annual Intersession Expo January 27 at 6 pm in the Gym. Everyone is invited.

Interns Assigned—As an example of internship placements for the ongoing Intersession program, Seniors Matthew Rush (left) and Brandon Machek are at San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles magazine, where they were assigned to the editorial, marketing and art depart-ments.

Q&A Continued from page 1.

Q. I got your Email and I know I worked more hours than you show.A. Some hours are slow to get to me, sports parents hours usually come after the season ends. I seldom get hours in less than two weeks after an event. Ask the chair of the event if he or she has turned them in.

Q. What if I still feel I had more hours.A. Contact me, SAHPNT@att.net or 619-440-3869 and we will work it out.

Editor’s Note: The following is part of an oc-casional series of interviews with Saints faculty members on how they use technology at home and in education. This month, Saints parent Mr. John White interviewed Mr. Gregory Hecht, who teaches English 2A and Ethics. He is also our school’s A.S.B Moderator and head volleyball coach. He graduated from Los Alamitos High, then went to UC Santa Barbara for his BA and

earned a Masters at Amberton University. He is a ten-year career teacher now into his third year at Saints.

Question: How do you feel about high technology and personal electronics in general? Where do you see it taking us?Answer: Technology is a great enabler. GPS has helped locate lost sailors, campers, and children. I can work out with my iPod Touch and take my own selection of movies on any airplane ride. I am a much better informed consumer and benefit from perspectives of people all over the globe with a few keystrokes and flicks. Students at Saints can interface with one another without leaving the class-room. Cellular technology allows immediate communication in emergencies and has captured amazing moments in history. However, while I’m fascinated by this world of technology, I wonder if we are losing (or have lost) the fine art of penning a personal letter. I worry that members of this technology-rich genera-tion are regressing in their ability to communicate face to face with one another. Perhaps we have lost a certain element of intimacy in our relationships because of text messages and e-mail. I often think that technology has eliminated the opportunity for us to learn the constructive lessons of delayed gratification. Have we simply created more opportunities to place more demands on our already hectic lifestyles? After all, no matter how technology advances, there will always only be 24 hours in a day…unless, of course, technology can change that as well. Again, perhaps it already has!

Q: Which technologies do you find work best with your students?A: I feel as though I use every possible technology throughout the school day. The option to stream video in our wired classrooms brings items to life and makes for good teaching. The students work wirelessly, and most of them possess a multimedia device or smart-phone. The applications for video-over-wireless are simply amazing and multiplying from one day to the next. I think the next generation will work digitally, wirelessly, in 3 or 4-D, and maybe even without the printed word on paper.

Q: When did you first use a personal computer?A: I first used a personal computer in junior high. I learned BASIC, ASCII, and DOS as part of a programming class. In high school, I used an Apple II for basic word processing.

Q: What kind of computer do you like to use now?A: I love to use my iMac for personal computing needs, but I’m also comfortable on a PC with Windows. The PC is better for networked systems and data storage, but the iMac can anticipate your needs and makes everything so easy! At home I use both an iMac and a Dell Latitude 530 laptop.

Q: What do you most like to do a computer? What are your favorite software titles?A: With a large family and two children, we have more photos and video than we can handle, so I spend a lot of time in iPhoto, iMovie and Final Cut. I used to be a radio DJ, so I love iTunes, and I play Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football and Taberinos. Professionally, I live and die on Outlook, Word, Access, Excel and PowerPoint, and use the entire Adobe Creative Suite.

Q: How about the Web? Which browser do you prefer, and which are your favorite sites?A: On the iMac I use Safari. On the PC I use Chrome because it’s

lightning-fast when you have multiple tabs open. My favorite sites are washingtonpost.com, online.wsj.com (Wall Street Journal), foreignaffairs.com, ESPN.com and chargers.com, to name a very few. Like most people, I use Google for search, but Bing is slowly winning me over.

Q: Where do you usually get the news?A: For national or international news, I go to the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, or KPBS FM radio. For local news, I usually go to signonsandiego.com.

Q: How about blogs? Which do you read? Do you have one?A: Negative on the blogs. I’m fascinated by the blog culture, though, and might develop one someday. For now, my only “blogs” are the course outlines and weekly assignment pages for Ethics and English that I post on sahsonline.org. I think everyone gets enough of my musings on those pages.

Q: Do you spend time on social media?A: I do not do any social media or networking. I know I’m prob-ably dating myself.

Q: What are your favorite kinds of music, and how do you like to listen to them?A: How much space do you have in this article? I am a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Eagles, Steely Dan, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), The Beatles, Chicago, Rush, Sade, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Cre-dence Clearwater Revival, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Eva Cassidy, Nora Jones, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, Andrea Bocelli and Michael McDonald. I have an iPod Touch, Sirius Satellite, a CD player and even good ol’ fashioned radio!

Q: How do you like to share your photographs?A: One of my dreams! I adore photography. If I could do anything, I would love to be a photojournalist for Sports Illustrated, or the photographer who forever immortalized “The Catch” Dwight Clark of the 49ers made in the back of the end zone during the 1981 NFC Championship game! I often think about how one sin-gle photo has the power to shape, or even change, history. Think of the photos of Tiananmen Square in 1989 with the man in front of the line of army tanks, or the self-immolating monk in Vietnam in 1963, or the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima in 1945. So many beautiful images to capture in our wonderful world! I enjoy digital (Sony DSC-H5) because it is so easy to work with, but I think that real art is accomplished with traditional equipment.

Q: How do you get along with your phone?A: I have an LG Envy 2 that seems to be industrial-strength: I can do anything to it and it still seems to work! It locks out between calls more quickly than I like; I wish that were different. I text with it a lot – guilty as charged!

The Digital Side of Mr. HechtInterviewed by John White (Parent ’11, ’13)

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Four Saintsmen Named National Hispanic

ScholarsSeniors Thomas Barrett, Jose Escamilla, Jon Kalfayan and Carlos Martinez have been named outstanding scholars by the 2010-2011 National Hispanic Recognition Program. The NHRP was initiated in 1953 to identify top Hispanic/Latino high school students. Students recognized by the program must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino to qualify. Nearly 5,000 Hispanic Recognition Scholars were named top scholars out of more than 200,000 taking the 2008 PSAT.

Carlos Martinez Jose Escamilla Jon Kalfayan Thomas Barrett

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St. Augustine High School via its community resources is serving as a catalyst in support of a dynamic art program to inspire K-8 students in urban Catholic

schools. Cat Kemme, an artist and muralist and a Saints par-ent, is the visiting artist at St. Jude Academy, where the 8th grade students completed the mural entitled: “We Take Care of God’s Creation.” The eye of God symbolizes his command, as he tells his people to take care of what he has created, throughout the universe, and in our world...the animals, plants, land, and each other.

Albert and Evelyn Williams have been named as the recipients of the 2010 James O’Hara (’72) Memorial Saints

Greatest Fan Award by the Saints Alumni Board of Directors. Albert and Evelyn have been supporting Saints athletics since the mid 70’s, regularly attending both football and basketball games and finding a special place among the Saints fans for their consistent attendance, dedication, and spirit throughout the decades. As Alumni parents and grandparents, the Williams’ have been fortunate through the years to see many great Saints players and teams, but it has been their desire to return to the fields and gymnasiums year after year, in both winning and trying seasons, that is truly commendable. Believed to be the award’s first ever co-recipients, Albert and Evelyn were honored recently at halftime of the Saints vs Mira Mesa Football game. There, joined by members of their family, friends, as well as many of the alums who have remembered their support fondly, Albert and Evelyn were able to be on the receiving end of an ap-preciative fan base and give the Saints community something truly worth cheering about. –Originally published in Saints Alive Alumni Newsletter

Teddy Bear Connection--Saints students partnered this holiday season with the San Diego Police Department and Rady Children’s Hospital in a very successful Teddy Bear Drive to support hospitalized youngsters during the Christmas season. From left to right: San Diego Police Officer Dean Bishop, Neil Rens (’12), Senior Class Secre-tary Nicholas Samouris, Junior Class Treasurer Ryan Tweed, Associated Student Body President Jesse Watson (’11), and Rady Children’s Hospital Corporate Development Officer Sara Moten. School and Saints

Community SupportParochial Art

Fans of the Year Saluted

Edwin J. Hearn, Jr.

It is easy to lose the perspective that Saints is part of the second largest school system in the United States. Only the public school system

is larger. Approximately two million students are being educated in Catholic schools across the U.S., a system that began humbly after the Revolution-ary War with the founding of the first Catholic institution of higher learning, the Catholic Literary Establishment which later became Georgetown Uni-

versity. Immigration from Western Europe began in earnest after the Warof 1812, and Catholic schools were founded from New York City toChicago. Many orders of nuns and priests built schools to educate the growing number of Catholic immigrants making their way across the Atlantic in hopes of a better life in America. In 1831, the Oblate Sisters of Providence founded St. FrancesAcademy in Baltimore, the first school in the United States to educate African-American students. It was not until after the Civil War that free Blacks in the north and freed slaves in the south were educated by public schools. Many Catholic institutions of higher learning were also established. Villanova University was founded by the Augustinian Friars in 1842. While the vision of the Church was to educate the children ofthese newly arriving Catholic families, the nuns did much of the legwork creating a network of independent Catholic elementary

schools. Catholic schools became the principle force of accultura-tion for the largely poor and uneducated immigrants who came to the U.S. seeking a better life for their children. During the early part of the 20th century, Thomas Dewey’s edu-cational ideas took hold with I.Q. testing was used to track studentsinto their future occupations. Immigrant children who generally didnot speak English well and were under-educated tended to do poor-ly on this testing and were often placed in lower tracks precluding them from the professions. Pressure mounted at the parish level to build schools for these children and as a result, the Catholic school system exploded during the 1920’s. Catholic schools hit their zenith in the 1950’s, educating 11% ofAmerican schoolchildren. John F. Kennedy’s election as president in 1963, led Catholics to believe that they had finally arrived in mainstream American culture. A recent study by The Institute for Educational Initiatives atUniversity of Notre Dame concluded that Catholic schools in theurban core have had tremendous success in educating the poor wholive there. This study notes that while the success of these schools has been unparalleled, it has been in steady decline the past 40 years as costs have risen. With more lay people teaching in Catholic schools, tuitions have risen significantly making it more difficult for the urban poor to afford the cost of providing their children a Catholic education. In an effort to counteract this disturbing trend in the Diocese of

...The Road Together

Catholic Education Over the YearsBuilding a Stronger Community Through Saints

By Edwin Hearn, PresidentSt. Augustine High School

Road Warriors—Robert Encinas, Jr. (’11) is on stage (far right) accepting an award for being the lead driver in a third place finish in his class in the annual Baja 1000 road race held last month. Next to our Saintsman is his father Robert Encinas, Sr. and co-driver Kiko Montalban.

Augustinian Education Update

Villanova’s Business Without Borders Named

2010 Chapter of the Year by Net Impact

Saints Grad/Human RightsAdvocate Speaks at School

Guest Speaker at Saints Society of Scholars MeetingBy Michael Ebeling (’11)

Publisher: Edwin J. Hearn, Jr. Saints President Editor-in-Chief: James Horne, Saints Principal Senior Editor: Steve Chipp (’68), Alumni DirectorManaging Editor: Thomas Shess, Alum Parent (’05)Thomas.Shess@gmail.comStaff Writers: John White and Robert Blodgett, Saints Dads Art Director: Carol Sherwood

Chief Photographers: Ernie Torgeson & Pat HealyCirculation Director: Casey Callery, Director of Community Relations and Special Events.Austin Parents Assn. Editor: Theresa “TK” Kosen Editor Emeritus: John D. Keller O.S.A. (’55)Correction PolicyWhile every effort is made to be accurate, we occasionally err. We do apolo-gize to those impacted and kindly ask that you notify the Managing Editor so we may choose to publish corrections or amplifications in future issues.

Saints Scene Your monthly reporton the St. Augustine

High School Experience

“Do the Right thing,” encour-aged Enrique Morones, founder and head of the Border Angels,

in front of an enthused gathering of the Saints Society of Scholars. As a Saintsman, class of 1974, Mr. Mo-rones learned from an early age the value of service to others from both his high school education and his im-migrant parents. Since 1986, he and his organization have promoted hu-

manitarian efforts to help the migrant workers (otherwise known as illegal immigrants) who every day cross the border. Perhaps most famous for their placement of water bottles throughout the desert, Mr. Morones and the Border Angels have traveled through-out the country to help ease what they see as a gross injustices to people who seek economic opportunities in the United States. Long before he appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, The Today Show, or CNN, he was helping out the poor in Tijuana, going into the slums and providing essential needs and resources to the desperate. He gained the attention of church leaders for his help, especially one woman at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in North County. She brought to his attention the fact that many migrant workers were living without basic necessities in the canyons of San Diego. Living by the tenet that the “person that’s going to make a change is the person you see in the mirror,” Morones went into the canyons to provide food, water, and shelter to the destitute farm hands, all of whom worked for below minimum-wage sala-ries and had crossed the border illegally. This effort soon spread to the deserts south of San Diego and eventually the border, where he and his crew provide water for those who cross. “People are dying along the border,” Mr. Morones pleads. “Since Operation Gatekeeper was started [in 1994], there have been at least 4,000 deaths.” Mr. Morones believes that, because the wall has forced many people to move to areas along the bor-der that are less easily traversed, more have died from a lack of

shelter and water in the harsh and arid desert. To combat further ex-tension of the laws and crackdowns on illegal immigrants, he and the Border Angels have organized large rallies across the country. He has even met with Senator John McCain and President Barack Obama to put forth the issue, and is somewhat discouraged by Mr. Obama’s lack of accomplishment on the issue. He does concede, though, that the president has much on his plate. Morones’ political opponents (including Saints alum Roger Hedgecock) argue that illegal immigration threatens both national security and the traditional American culture. To combat the latter, he responds with a quote from Benjamin Franklin, in which Frank-lin expressed concern over the “stupid, swarthy Germans,” who failed to assimilate to the common American culture. The national security issue is a bit trickier, as terrorists could seemingly cross the border in the same way migrant workers from Mexico and Latin America do. Under Morones’ ideal plan (dubbed “Humane Immigration Re-form”), though, he states a need for a documentation of all migrant workers. This would not assure them citizenship, but rather keep them under the watch of the government, akin to a more permanent version of the Guest-worker program proposed by President Bush. He vehemently opposes a physical barrier across the border, instead supporting a virtual fence that would monitor the border but cost a considerable amount more. This appears to be a compromise, something in between complete amnesty for illegal immigrants and strict enforcement of immigration law. Still, Morones’ work is not without controversy. Supporters of tougher immigration policies accuse him of giving assistance to those who commit a federal crime by crossing illegally. He contends that, “rather than dehumanizing these people with such terms [as illegal immigrant], we should help them.” This is an un-equivocally Christian position, and one the Catholic Church takes on providing aid to migrant workers who cross illegally. But is it the practical path a country should take in a world shared with Al Qaeda and violent drug wars? Expect such debate in the next year.

Just one year after becoming a chapter, the Villanova School of Business’ Business Without Borders student group has been named Net Impact Chapter of the Year for 2010.

Net Impact, which has more than 260 chapters worldwide, is an organization for professionals, graduate students, and undergradu-ates that aims to use business to create a socially and environmen-tally sustainable world. Its members include social entrepreneurs, nonprofit managers, international development experts, and students and professionals who are interested in corporate respon-sibility and sustainability. Students from VSB accepted the prestigious award at the 2010 Net Impact Conference, which took place October 28-30 at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. VSB’s Business Without Borders community is one of 48 Net Impact undergraduate chapters in the United States. “The opportunities that are being presented to our students are enhancing the business education experience,” says Debra Arvan-ites, assistant professor of management and operations and faculty advisor to the Villanova Chapter of BWB. “They are leaving Vil-lanova passionate about creating a more socially and environmen-tally sustainable world.”

Catholic Education Continued from page 5.

Edwin J. Hearn, Jr.

GUEST OPINION

Enrique Marones (’74)

San Diego, a Consortium of nine urban Catho-lic elementary schools was formed last year to strengthen the structure of these schools. The principals of these schools meet at Saints once a month to collaborate on financial and marketing strategies, organizational structures and educa-tion issues. These dedicated educators are work-ing diligently, as they have done for decades, to continue educating students in the center of the city.

Through the work of our urban Catholic schools, the fabric of our community is strengthened. Just as the nuns and priests of the past prepared the next generation of scholars, these schools carry on in that tradition. They have stayed true to the mission of Catho-lic education, bringing poor and immigrant children into themainstream; providing them a vision for their future through the teachings of the Catholic Church. The culmination of this vision is Saints. Nowhere else in San Diego do young men from every corner of the county and Mexico come together in such a unique manner. The strong relationships forged during the high school years build the lasting brotherhood that touches us all. The foundation of that brotherhood begins in the Catholic elementary schools. It is important that they stay strong. Through the collaborative efforts of Mrs. Mickey Carson and Cat Kemme, Saints is working with each of these schools on a unique art project that will be shared with the Saints community at the annual Saints Arts Festival on Saturday, April 9. The Festival will feature good food, entertainment, and wonderful art. Please mark this event on your calendar. This year’s Festival will be the culmination of a mutual effort celebrating the vision of building a more Christian Community of support and care.

7

St. John’s Wins and Loses Parochial Championship

December’s “The Elite 8” parochial school flag football championship game was a great one. St. John of the Cross was trailing

St. John Encinitas 24-16 with 32 seconds left on the game clock. St. John of the Cross scored on a 50 yard pass play. With a chance to go to overtime, the extra point sailed right and St. John Encinitas pulled out the victory 24-22, to be crowned “2010 SD County Champions”.

Matt Ryan (’11) Named MVP

Psst. Here’s a timely hint to part-time basketball fans. Now’s the time to jump on the Varsity basketball team’s expected big season bandwagon. Although coach Mike

Haupt’s comments in December’s Saints Scene were under-stated, a savvy reader could see through his modest coachspeak. Here are a few hints pointing to a stellar season ahead:

1. Last month Coach Haupt was quoted: “…This will be the biggest team I have coached at Saints—Matt Ryan 6’7”, Drew Madsen 6’7”, Juan Moreno 6’5”, Drew Peterson 6’3” guard, Brynton Lemar 6’2” pt. guard, Darren and Evan Critchlow at 6’4” 220 lbs.”

2. Size alone isn’t enough. Experience is a huge factor. “…We were very young last year in terms of experience and we are returning a lot of key players from last year. They experienced the most competitive Western League season in my 16 years at Saints and that experience will help us immensely…”

3. Last month, Saints Varsity won the popular Wolfpack Horsman tourney beating Cathedral 64-52.

4. Saintsman Matt Ryan (’11) was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

5. Ryan, Drew Peterson and Brynton Lemore were named to the All-Wolfpack Horsman tourney team. Fans of Saints basketball can still buy into the season ticket plan and it is important that they get to games early. Plus, fans can keep tabs on the team by accessing the Internet at Max-Preps.com

Varsity Clinches Important

Basketball Tourney

Clockwise from upper left: Drew Madsen (’13), Juan Moreno (’12), Chris Banaga (’12) and Drew Madsen.

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