The Present Dei

Verbum Dei sophomores (from left to right) Mario Canchola, Nathan Mendoza, Pedro Armenta, Kevin Metelus, Brian Martinez, Carlos Castro-Penate, Billy Paredes, Brandon Williams, Julio Ceja, and Jesus Rojas pose before the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Student Union February 9 during Cal Poly SLO Pre-Collegiate Symposium.  “The two-day event is an opportunity for the top 10 sophomores [cummulative unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher] to explore the campus and experience college life at a highly competitive institution,” said Martinique Belgarde, College Guidance Director.  Photo by Michael Putnam

By John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

Nathaniel Ryan and Nathaniel Mota, underclassmen at Verbum Dei High School, earned trips to the Disneyland Resort for exceeding their class requirement for independent reading by three times in the first semester.  The recipient and two guests are provided entry into the Disneyland Resort with “Park Hopper” tickets, which allow them to enjoy both Disneyland and California Adventure Park.  The award is valued at more than $300.  The incentives are offered as a component of the Reading Counts! program that was piloted last year with two grade levels and expanded school wide this year.

“Reading Counts!  is an instrumental element in the development of a ‘culture of literacy’ at Verbum Dei High School,” said John Stradley, English Department Chair.  “Many of our students have never considered reading to be among their options for filling their free time, but now they are beginning to see the value of reading – both for their English grades and for entertainment.”

On two unseasonably warm January afternoons, 29 reading Eagles from all four grade levels noshed on self-trimmed sundaes of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, chocolate sprinkles, and maraschino cherries.  Students qualified for this incentive by exceeding their independent reading requirements by a minimum of 10%.

Additionally, seven students, representative of each grade level, earned coveted free dress passes for use during finals week this past December.  These awards were earned for reading up to twice the class requirement for independent reading.

The Scholastic Reading Counts! program promotes independent reading through individual student choice from 40,000+ fiction and non-fiction titles.  Students read books of their choosing independently, take computerized comprehension quizzes on the titles, and earn points that are factored into their English grade.

Senior Eddie Molina demonstrates his ball-control prowess as strong team work and communication of the VDHS varsity soccer team bring a 6-1 victory against Vista Mar High School at the Eagle’s Nest.  Photograph by Bryan Moriera

By Bryan Moreira, Staff Writer

The Verbum Dei varsity soccer team faced off against Vista Mar High School on January 6 at VDHS, and they achieved an outstanding 6-1 victory through team work and great communication out on the field.

“We all united as one as a Verbum Dei team,” said Miguel Lopez, a sophomore defensive player. “We dominated that game.” In their first game since placing 4^th in the Bosco Tech Christmas Tournament, the Verbum Dei Eagles controlled this game through outstanding defensive and offensive play. VDHS scored four goals in the first half, while Vista Mar was unable to score their first and only goal until well into the second half.

Danny Lopez scored a dazzling goal well into the second half that caused a lot of cheering. He received a passed ball and moved swiftly, so he was able to get ahead of all of the defenders. This gave him a wide open shot with only the goalie left to try to negate the incoming shot. In addition to this goal that stood our amongst the rest, five other Verb players scored throughout the duration of the game.

“It [the victory] was a confidence booster for games to come in the league, especially with harder games coming up like those against Salesian,” said Assistant Coach Oscar Rosa.

Senior Jason Smith posts up as classmate Darius Spates looks for a friendly face amid a sea of arms and hands.  The Eagles humbled El Monte High School 51-42 at the Eagle’s Nest January 4 .  Photograph by Emma Stradley

The VDHS Drumline and their frequent parade companions, the Eagle Belles Cheer squad of St. Mary’s Academy, pose prior to the recent Westchester Christmas Parade.  Photo by Victor Cancino

By Victor Cancino, Moderator, Verbum Dei High School Drumline

Verbum Dei’s Drumline placed 3^rd in this year’s Lynwood Candy Cane Lane Parade December 2.  The boys entered in the competitive Drum Squad field and because of their placing 3^rd, the line has been invited to apply to any of 40 upcoming competitive and non-competitive parades in Southern California. 

The 3^rd Place trophy is on display in Room 202.  Viewing hours are from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Thursday or by appointment,”  said Cancino, whose pride in the drumline is palpable. “If you would like to view and maybe touch the trophy with your own hands after hours, you may ask Security Guard Roy to escort you in for a private viewing.”

Drumline members congregate around the Eagle mascot earlier this school year.  Photograph by Victor Cancino, Moderator, VDHS Drumline

With the support of the St. Mary’s Academy Eagle Belles, the Verbum Dei Drum Line will participate in their third parade this holiday season. The Westchester Christmas Parade will be held Sunday, December 11^th at 2:00 P.M. The parade starts at the corner of Loyola Blvd. and Manchester Avenue in Westchester and heads east on Manchester to conclude on Emerson Avenue. Drumline members ask you to support your Verbum Dei Drumline while celebrating the holiday season this weekend. 

By John Stradley, Moderator, The Present Dei

In their second non-school related appearance of the 2011-2012 school year, the Verbum Dei High School Drumline, accompanied by the Eagle Belles cheer squad of sister school St. Mary Academy of Inglewood, marched in the Watts Christmas Parade December 3.

Carrying both the Verb and St. Mary’s banners, the Belles stepped the route to the steady back beat of the drum line; the pairing reminiscent of the two squads shared mission during the recent football season.  Hours of marching drills around the campus parking lot were apparent in the tight formation of the ensemble.

The parade was a lumbering one, with 15-20 minute gaps between units, but the Verb/SMA contingent was prominent among the anchors, marching near at the end of a column that spanned more than two hours.

The parade attracted thousands of spectators, yet the sidewalk was by no means shoulder to shoulder along the parade route, which stretched along Central Avenue between El Segundo Blvd. and Ted Watkins Memorial Park on a sunny, but cool Saturday afternoon.

Verbum Dei High School students raised awareness through a poster campaign and the experience of sleeping outside on campus November 20-22.  Weather conditions ranged from cold to wet and cold for the 23 students and their chaperones who put themselves into the shoes of the homeless and listened to the story of a formerly homeless mother.  “A number of our students have a better understanding that each individual’s story is different,” said Karen Chambers of Campus Ministry.  “We don’t know those stories, and so it’s not for us to judge someone based on what they look like or what circumstances they’re in.”  Photo by Karen Chambers, Campus Ministry.