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Beginning of the 2023-24 Year Information | |
We cannot wait to see our returning and new students and families back on campus! | |
A Message from Our President and VPs | |
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As the Carondelet community is enjoying the rest, fun, and adventure that summer provides, we hope you have had a chance to reconnect and recharge in anticipation of an exciting school year ahead. We are thrilled to welcome new members to our vibrant school community including our new freshman class, incoming transfer students, and talented new colleagues.
We have been busy bees this summer planning and preparing. As you well know, Carondelet is a vibrant community, rooted in the CSJ charism of unifying love and committed to nurturing students that respond to the needs of the time. In that spirit, we have focused our energies on continuing our growth and understanding of our mission and history. We have sent colleagues on a CSJ Pilgrimage to Le Puy, France and members of our campus ministry team and VP of Student Life and Mission have started a year-long Spirits on Fire program to fully engage with other Sisters of St. Joseph schools and ministries.
We have also upgraded some facilities on campus to create functional and welcoming spaces for our community. Some of these exciting facilities improvements include: sound upgrades and improved air conditioning in the gym, new EV charging stations in the S Lot behind the Back 40 classrooms, renovation of the College Counseling Office, school security upgrades that include electronic locks for many doors on campus, and more.
This year also marks a time of intentional reflection as we prepare for our WASC/WCEA accreditation visit this coming February. We will be reaching out this fall to our community to help us prepare for this process. Your feedback is an important piece to continue to create and nurture the unique, creative, and transformational programs for our young women.
We long for the halls to be bubbling with the sounds of students’ voices and laughter, and in anticipation of that transition, we wanted to reach out and provide important information, updates, and reminders about the upcoming start of the 2023-24 school year. The Beginning of the Year webpage and the Frequently Asked Questions webpage contains all the information that students and families need to know about at the start of the year, so be sure to save this email as a resource.
We will have more updates in early August as we get closer to the beginning of the school year, but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about the return to school.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you soon!
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Schedule
On Wednesday, August 16 we’ll host our first day of classes for the school year. All classes will meet for 45 minutes. This first day is meant to be a welcome check-in where teachers introduce the course and review class-specific expectations. View the first-day schedule on the Calendar.
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Information on Treat Road Project
The City of Concord initiated their project to repave all six lanes of Treat Boulevard. Progress is being made, and we hope that most of the work will be completed around CHS and DLS by the time school starts. The general timeline for this project is May 15 – October 15, 2023.
Due to the ongoing lane closures during construction, expect more congestion and longer wait times than usual. Please be patient with construction workers and with our own security and school staff as we work to mitigate congestion and assist with traffic flow before and after school. Please plan accordingly for delays (especially when scheduling after school appointments).
Get up-to-date information on this project on the City of Concord’s project website.
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Locks & Lockers
All 9th-grade students will receive a Carondelet lock and will be assigned a locker for the 2023-24 school year. Locks and locker assignments will be distributed on Orientation day.
10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students will have the option to opt-in to a locker this year. This process will take place on Orientation day and during the first week of school.
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Physicals
Incoming freshmen and transfer students are required to submit a physical form to their enrollment portal prior to the start of school. Make sure to save a digital copy for your records. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Attendance Coordinator, Stephanie Gutierrez.
If your student plans to try out for a sport, you will need to create an account in our Athletics Registration system and upload her physical. Parents/guardians are required to complete this step.
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Medications/Illness Form
If your student has a life-threatening illness or takes medication at school, please complete the Student Medications form and submit it to Stephanie Gutierrez, Attendance Coordinator, by the start of the school year.
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Bell Schedule
The 2023-24 Bell Schedule is available on the website and as a downloadable and printable PDF. We will continue with our modified block schedule with 80-minute periods and one 0-7 class day.
- Monday: 0-7
- A-Day (Tuesday/Thursday): 0/1/2/3/7
- B-Day (Wednesday/Friday): 0/4/5/6
The schedule was designed with students in mind. B Days include 60 minute lunch periods where student life programming such as prayer services, class meetings, club meetings, etc. will be held. Some Wednesdays will be designated as late start days with school starting at 9:30 AM (4th period). Mass, assembly, and rally special schedules are also posted on our website. Full updates are available on our website.
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Lunch: MySchoolBucks by Epicurean
Epicurean provides high-quality, healthy meals for Carondelet’s students, faculty, and staff to purchase. Current students that have a MySchoolBucks account can add money to their account now. New students can add money to their account once they have received their student school ID number (in early August). Follow the instructions on this page (and select “Carondelet High School (Concord)) from the dropdown menu in MySchoolBucks. If you have any questions setting up your account, please contact Epicurean directly by emailing Candace Barnes, General Manager, at Candace@epicurean-group.com.
View the Garaventa Cafe webpage for more information about food options and Epicurean.
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10th, 11th, 12th Orientation
August 15: Student orientation and photos for 10th (8:30 AM to 10:00 AM), 11th (10:00 AM to 11:30 AM), and 12th graders (12:00 PM to 1:30 PM).
To order photo packages: visit www.mylifetouch.com and use this picture day code: EVT77JCJ8.
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Frosh Orientation
August 14: Student orientation and photos for 9th graders (8:30 AM to 1:00 PM), To order photo packages: visit www.mylifetouch.com and use this picture day code: EVT77JCJ8
Our Senior Peer Counselors are excited to welcome our freshmen at Orientation on Monday, August 14! They will be there to assist throughout the morning, answer questions, and to help our newest Cougars become comfortable on campus.
All students will meet in the Gym to begin Orientation. Students must be in Everyday Uniform on their scheduled orientation day. For more information about our dress code, visit our Uniforms webpage.
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Used Uniform Sale
The Carondelet Parents Association is hosting a used uniform sale on Monday, August 14 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM in the Garaventa Center. The class of 2027 will have private access from 1:00 - 1:30 PM before we open up the sale to the entire community. This is a great opportunity to purchase discounted spiritwear and Mills Uniform pieces.
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Senior Portraits
Senior Portraits with Prestige Photography by Lifetouch - If you did not take your portraits on July 13 or 14 on campus, do not worry. We will have make-up sessions on campus in September or you can set up an appointment at the studio.
All seniors must be photographed before October 1, 2023. Please refer to this FAQ document for contact information for Prestige Photography. Please refer to this PDF for pricings/packages and appointment information. The portrait/appearance guidelines for the yearbook and graduation slideshow can be found here.
To order Senior Portraits Packages: View your photo proofs 10-14 business days after Picture Day on Shop.PrestigePortraits.com. Use the Session ID and Access Code included in your email or printed proofs to claim online. Use this site to choose your Yearbook pose. Deadline to choose is October 1, 2023.
To order the Senior Panoramic: Visit www.mylifetouch.com and enter the picture day code which will be posted on Schoology in August.
Please contact Faith Ripoli, Yearbook Adviser, with any questions.
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Morning Shuttle
School-managed bus transportation is available in the mornings from the Tri-Valley area with communal stops in Livermore, Pleasanton, and Danville on the way to Carondelet.
Registration will be available to all current CHS (and DLS students who are siblings of current CHS students). If there is availability, registration will be opened up to all other DLS students.
Rates are $1,200 for the school year. Morning shuttle service is offered on a first come, first serve basis. View more information and reserve your student’s spot on the Transportation webpage.
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Carpool Directory
If you would like to be added to our carpool directory please send an email to Sonia Wilson. We will add you to our directory and share it with you.
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Student Parking
For those students who have already secured a parking space for the 2023-24 school year, parking tags will be available at Student Orientation. For students who were placed on the waiting list this spring, please email Caitlin Main, Dean of Students, once you have a valid driver’s license.
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We have made a few updates to the 2023-24 Student Handbook. We want to specifically call out the following updates:
Section 2.6. Attendance
- Carondelet High School and the State of California see 10 or more absences, whether excused or unexcused, as excessive.
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Excused absences include: school-sanctioned activities, illness, injury, medical appointments that cannot be made outside of class hours, family emergencies, religious commitments, and college visits (up to three school days for juniors and seniors only) and growth opportunities (up to three school days) upon the completion of a Planned Absence form. Personal business is not considered an excused absence.
- Students who are chronically absent (>15%) will receive Attendance Probation agreements at the end of each grading period. Excessive absences may impact extracurricular activities, course scheduling, and/or enrollment.
As stated in our Student Handbook, students must have hair that is a natural color. Hair that is green, blue, pink, purple, etc. is not permitted at school. As we approach the start of the school year, please take some time to ensure that your student’s hair is a school-appropriate color.
Read more about the Uniforms and Appearance Code here.
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Retreats
Camp Alpha and Corazon Retreat Leadership
Campus Ministry is looking for students who are interested in becoming leaders for Camp Alpha and/or Corazón. If you are interested, please take a look at and fill out the Retreat Leader Interest Forms below for information regarding the commitment, and to be contacted when the 2023-2024 school year starts in August. (Please note: this isn’t a commitment or guarantee to be a leader, but a form to show interest.)
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If you have any questions about Retreats or Leadership,
please send an email to Rick Grand-Lejano, Campus Minister.
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Ven a Ver Immersion Program
Applications for our fall immersion trips, Ven a Ver DC (juniors and seniors) and Ven a Ver Fruits of Labor (all grade levels) are now available. Learn more about these immersion trips and apply here.
Contact Vanessa Miranda, Campus Minister for Community Service &
Social Advocacy with any questions.
Community Service
Students who are interested in community service can check out the school’s website. We’ve curated two lists of agencies that our students frequently volunteer with: Community Service Opportunities and Healthcare Volunteer Opportunities, the latter for students who are particularly interested in volunteering in the healthcare field. For more information about Community Service and Social Advocacy opportunities at Carondelet, check out the Service and Advocacy page on the website.
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Academic and Learning Support | |
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Academic and Learning Support
The Academic & Learning Support team is here to help! PowerLab is a time and space for students to receive extra assistance from teachers, peer tutors, and case managers who are there every day for supportive conversations and work sessions. PowerLab takes place on Mondays - Thursdays from 2:45 - 3:45 PM in the library (It begins 10 minutes after the last class on any day.) PowerStart takes place
Mondays - Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:10 AM before school. Students can opt into PowerLab at any time. Students can also be referred to PowerLab by teachers or parents. If you are interested in referring your student to PowerLab, please have a conversation with your child regarding this opportunity first! We will then work to connect the student and teacher during PowerLab. The form for referral can be found here.
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College Rep Visits
College reps will visit starting in August. All juniors and seniors are able to attend these presentations. Make sure to check Scoir for up-to-date info on visits and registration.
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Seniors
Throughout the fall, College Counseling will have many ways to support seniors with college applications.
- College Counselors will be meeting with all seniors during blunch on September 6 and October 25 and during Workshop Wednesday on October 11 to cover important college application information.
- College Counselors will be available every Wednesday after school (HOWL), September through November, for application help.
Seniors should set up meetings with their College Counselor by using the Counselor’s scheduling link found on the College Counseling website.
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Paying for College: Money Method Partnership
Carondelet is excited to announce a partnership with Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method, to increase support for our families in an important area of your journey to college—understanding what it means to pay for college today and the financial aid process. An email was sent earlier this summer with details about the program and a list of workshop dates.
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We are excited to welcome everyone back to cheer on the Cougars! Please refer to the Athletics website for the listing of the seasons of sport. (Please note: we will be moving to a new Athletics website in the near future so the Athletics links may be changing, but you can always go to the website for the latest Athletics information.
Registration Information:
All students interested in trying out for an athletics team this coming school year must be registered with www.athleticclearance.com.
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Fall Sports Registration Deadline: July 31 (fall tryout schedule)
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Winter Sports Registration Deadline: October 23
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Spring Sports Registration Deadline: January 29
Step-by-step instructions can be found on our website under Athletics Registration. For any questions please reach out to our Athletics Director, Piper Brewster.
Tryout Information:
Tryouts for fall sports will be conducted the week prior to school per the 2023-24 NCS calendar. All students interested in participating in a fall sport should make arrangements to be fully prepared to try out for the teams they are interested in during the week of tryouts. Please note that only students cleared for athletics participation (see the Athletics Registration webpage) will be permitted to try out.
Parent Volunteer Information:
Parent Drivers/Volunteers must complete several items before driving student-athletes and volunteering for team roles (e.g., team parent). Please refer to the Parent Volunteer section on our website.
Afternoon Shuttle Schedule from Campus to the Carondelet Athletics Complex (CAC):
During the 2023-24 school year there will be free, one-way transportation to the CAC after school for Carondelet students. There is no cost and no need to pre-register. There is no return service to the main campus from the CAC later in the evening. More information can be found on the Carondelet website. Students will meet for the afternoon ride on the sidewalk of Winton Drive in front of the Jean Hofmann Center for Innovation. The shuttle will depart campus 20 minutes after the last bell no matter what the schedule is.
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The Cannon Wellness Center provides a supportive, restorative, and community-building space where all students are welcome. Students are encouraged to drop in during break, lunch, or after school to participate in ongoing wellness activities and programming. They may also make individual counseling appointments, as needs arise.
Our wellness counseling team provides individual (short-term) and group counseling support, wellness education and programming, art therapy activities, space for telehealth appointments, and community support referrals. We believe in the importance of encouraging students to prioritize their own mental health while providing the opportunity for students to support one another through peer collaboration.
Parents and students are encouraged to contact a wellness counselor if they have any questions or concerns regarding emotional health and wellbeing and would like support or community referral information.
Please visit the Cannon Wellness Center webpage for more information and links to resources, a student appointment request form, and our new Virtual Cannon Wellness site.
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First Carondelet Parent Guild Meeting of the Year
Calling all Carondelet parents! You are already a part of our Carondelet Parent Guild so come to our first meeting of the year and meet other parents and see how you can get involved. Our first meeting will be a meet and greet social so don’t miss out, Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Convent Community Room.
Convertibles Needed
It will be here before you know it, our Carondelet Homecoming week! Last year we had an amazing parade on our campus with help from our families. We are looking for convertible cars to help show off our homecoming court in the parade Thursday, September 28. If you have a convertible car that you think would be perfect for just this occasion, please contact Candi Mannoni, Parent Engagement Manager.
Get Involved and Volunteer
All parents who serve as volunteers with access to students are required to comply with Diocesan Requirements. While you are volunteering at Carondelet, you are responsible for your own safety. Workers’ compensation benefits are not provided to volunteers. Please use our Parent/Guardian Volunteer Clearance Form to upload all required documents. Fill out the LiveScan request and take it to a location that offers LiveScan services. The Postal Annex at Oak Grove and Treat is best equipped to handle our scans. Parents are responsible for the cost of fingerprinting. Clearance will be submitted electronically to Carondelet. Once completed, this requirement will be good for all the years that your student is attending Carondelet. It costs $35, cash and check accepted.
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Carondelet has long celebrated philanthropy as a driving force behind our extraordinary student experience. The generosity of parents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents, board members, faculty and staff, and our entire community helps reduce our reliance on significant tuition increases year over year and results in important and lasting improvements to school facilities, academic programs, tuition assistance, and continued evolution. Your support fuels excellence and innovation.
Find Your Giving Opportunity
Our goal is 100% participation by current families in annual fund giving (Parent Fund and Parent Pledge Program) for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year. Your contributions make an immediate impact. Every gift—no matter the amount or vehicle—positively influences the school and each student’s experience. Contributed income helps fund our areas of greatest opportunity and need, and allows us to be responsive and nimble with our support.
Carondelet’s 1965 Society, commemorating our founding year, honors generous donors who make annual unrestricted gifts of $1,965 or more in an academic year. These donors are invited to a reception with our President, Jessica Mix ‘99, and recognized in our donor honor roll, Many The Gifts.
Special Initiatives and Campaigns provide our students with world-class facilities and life-transforming experiences. Recent examples of these curated fundraising strategies include the Cannon Wellness Center and the Sisterhood Fund.
Tuition Assistance provides an ongoing academic and social enrichment program for talented, hard-working students—predominantly from underserved families and communities—whose presence strengthens our institution and reflects the mission of the CSJs.
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Cash and Credit Card
We accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. Cash gifts may be sent directly to the school to the attention of the Development Office.
Pledges
Pledges—multi-year commitments essential to the Carondelet Fund, endowment, and capital needs—are fully tax-deductible (for those who itemize), offer the most convenient form of giving, and enable donors to maximize their support over time. When you become a part of the Carondelet community, you are asked to make a multi-year, tax-deductible pledge in support of the school.
Matching Gifts
With matching gifts, you can sometimes double or even triple the impact of your gift and receive credit for the whole amount. Find out if your employer offers a matching gift program by asking your HR department or consulting with the Carondelet Development Team.
Securities
If you hold securities that would result in a long-term capital gain if sold, you can make an outright gift to Carondelet and realize substantial savings on capital gains tax on the appreciation.
Planned Giving
Planned giving refers to the thoughtful and deliberate process when a donor makes a charitable gift to Carondelet from their estate assets. Such gifts are usually deferred and often irrevocable and include bequests, trusts, and contracts between the donor and Carondelet in consultation with a professional advisor. Donors who make a planned gift to Carondelet will become members of our Fontbonne Society.
Special Fundraising Events
Visions of Christmas Suite of Events (Nov 28-Dec 2): Sip and Tree Holiday Market, Traditional Tea, and Roaring 20s Gala as well as Crab Feed and Cougar Classic golf tournament are examples of some of the fun-filled events we offer. Each event includes sponsorship opportunities, online auctions, drawings, and paddle raises for specific causes. These and other engagements throughout the year are wonderful opportunities to build relationships and community while supporting Carondelet.
We are deeply grateful for your continued support. Please contact Executive Director of Development, Summer Staino, or Carondelet Fund Director, Lynne Sabbagha Kenny ‘86.
Volunteering at Carondelet
Parent volunteer service hours are not required, however, we encourage parents/guardians to get involved on campus. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with the family community and support our students. During registration, parents/guardians were given an opportunity to select areas of interest for volunteering. To learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities and requirements, please view the Parent Volunteer page. All new parent volunteers must complete requirements. Please review and follow all instructions on the Volunteer page before volunteering.
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Check out our online school store for new Carondelet branded apparel and merch! We will continue to send out our monthly store eNewsletter including our new gear and promotions. | |
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More than high school. Her school. | |
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