The Present Dei

By Jacob Salgado,  Staff Writer

Although Verbum Dei High School is a tight-knit community, the institution is always looking to add new members. In the same spirit, for the first two weeks of February, Verb staff will be conducting interviews of potential freshmen for the coming school year.

“We are expecting about 70 students to come to these interviews,” said Dean of Enrollment Management William Liu.

“We hope to see students practice some of the professional skills taught at Verb,” Pablo Zapoteca, Director of Admissions added.  “They should be able to expand upon an answer – not just give a yes or no – but being able to give a full response.”

During these interviews, it is common to see the parents of these potential students on campus.  Chief Academic Officer Brandi Odom Lucas wants the parents to be comfortable sending their sons to Verb.

“We want them to know we will take care of each and every student,” said Odom.

In an attempt to make the parents feel more comfortable, Verb has given its ambassadors the important role of greeting and talking to the families.

“I want to give the parents a different perspective from a student rather than a teacher or staff member,” said senior ambassador Brian Diaz.

The interview process itself is an event that many interviewers enjoy for a variety of reasons.

“I enjoy learning about the students’ middle school experiences as well as getting to meet them in person,” said  Myra Rodriguez, personal counselor.  Rodriguez has interviewed students in the past.

“I take into consideration how they are performing academically,” said Rodriguez.  “If I learn a student is having academic challenges, we discuss how they can improve their current grades to better prepare them for high school.”

Some VDHS students look back upon that interview as the start of their Verb experience.  Senior ambassador Jayden Brownlee reminisces fondly upon his freshmen interview and is hopeful that the incoming freshmen might eventually fill his shoes as an ambassador.

“When I came in to do my interview, I remember being nervous, but the ambassadors before me helped me and gave me some tips,” said Brownlee.  “I remember looking up to them, and I was happy when I became an ambassador.”

Verbum Dei High School students enjoyed a first-of-its-kind event, the Google Campus Tour, on Friday, November 15.  During the two-hour visit, Google was happy enough to bring students of Verb to look around their company and to provide opportunities to interact with Google employees.

The purpose of the visit was “so that Google and Verbum Dei know one another,” said Joe Anlauf, Vice President of Corporate Recruiting.

Certain students were nominated by Dr. Brandi Odom, Chief Academic Officer, to go to the Google Campus Tour based on their grades.  She felt they would represent the school well, and this trip is a reward for their strong academic performance.

Verb students were accompanied by VDHS faculty, administration, and staff including Fr. Stephen Privett, SJ, VDHS President, Paul Hosch, Senior Vice President of Development, Lorenz Willis, Dean, Associate Director of Corporate Work Study Program, and Francis Argueta, Jesuit Service Corps volunteer.

By Alessandro Leon, Staff Writer

Verbum Dei High School’s Information and Technology Department, has made various advancements throughout the year. One such advancement is the implementation of E-Doc signatures sent via email.

“We are about to start this new method of electronic communication with the parents for future occasions,” said John Galloway, Director of Information and Technology at VDHS.

“We would eliminate paper all together and make it easier for parents and students to sign the permission forms” said Oscar Rosa, Tech Coordinator.

The elimination of paper would demonstrate a more environmentally conscious side of Verbum Dei, plus it would eliminate printing-related costs.

The IT Department has ran into a couple of problems in regards to this new way of making sure that the students get their signatures in. In order to get the E-Doc, the parents need an email address.

“I know that most parents do not have emails,” explained Rosa, “and that is a challenge for us, because we cannot text them the E-Doc.”

“In order for me to send these E-Docs,” said Galloway, “I need the email of the parent(s) and all of them, I download them from the RenWeb database.” “There is a lot of emails on that database, and I am not sure if the emails are updated, but I have to trust that they are.”

This new form of signature is still in process, and was planned to have a test run for the St. Mary’s Academy and Verbum Dei’s All Saints Day mass. Unfortunately, it was not possible for the E-Doc to be sent.

“This would really help me,” said senior Vidal Zavala, “because this senior year for me is really hectic. I don’t have time to be thinking about getting a paper signed, but if my mom could just receive it and sign it electronically, that would be great!”’

The IT Department is still working on this project, and other innovations that are designed to help the school improve communication with parents and students.

By Jose Lopez, Staff Writer

The Mission Advancement team has gone out to support Kathy Walton, a long time Verbum Dei donor and founding board member of Urban Compass, during the Urban Compass 15^th Anniversary Gala. The event was held in Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, on November 2, 2019.

Annie Levine, Individual Giving Officer, and Paul Hosch, Senior Vice President, both Mission Advancement staff attended the Urban Compass 15^th Anniversary Gala. The fundraising goal for this event was $50,000, and the expected attendance was 250 people that night.

“I thought the Gala was fantastic,” said Levine. “Beyond honoring Kathy, it did a great job showcasing the amazing work that Urban Compass does – plus the food was delicious!”

“She has been an incredible asset to Urban Compass and so deserving of this honor,” said Levine.  “Kathy is also a Verb volunteer at our annual galas and also a donor since 2008.”

“The event was great, wonderful celebration of her accomplishments” said Hosch.

Money was raised in both a live and silent auction, and many other nonprofit organizations were present as well.

By Eduardo Landa, Staff Writer

The City of Los Angeles and development corporations are renovating Central Avenue in order to not only make it safer, but also to make it more beautiful. This project has been an idea for decades, but it is finally coming to fruition now.

It was not possible before due to the lack of money, but now the City of Los Angeles has secured funding for this community enhancement project.

“I believe it is a great way to beautify Watts, and it all starts by taking the first step with Central Avenue,” said Jeff Bonino-Britsch, Vice President of Operations.

Another concern of the city is the narrow entrance that allows vehicle access to Verbum Dei High School from Central Avenue. This narrow entrance causes increased congestion during times of high traffic volume.

“This [situation] is very dangerous because if there are any parents or visitors trying to enter the school, they can get struck by a car,” said Bonino-Britsch. “The city is trying to incorporate a right turn lane in order to have cars wait instead of going straight and possibly hitting a car.”

“Turning left into [Verbum Dei] is dangerous because at the start and [at the end] of dismissal time there is a lot of traffic,” said Ruth Frias, mother of sophomore Axcell Frias.

“Cars are always speeding going towards Imperial trying to beat the light,”said Maria Ramirez, mother of junior Jesus Gutierrez.  “Cars will never give you the chance to make a left turn and block the school entrance.”

“It is just a little bit of traffic; it just takes me a little longer to get [my son] to school, but it is fine. I mean what am I gonna do?” said Socorro Estrada, mother of senior Jesus Estrada.

Ensuring that Verbum Dei provides a safe environment for all students and parents is a shared goal of the school and the City of Los Angeles.