Film by Isabela Reid '14 Wins Recognition

A sweet film about a wayward stuffed toy dog that was filmed in Franklin Park, Alameda, and directed by Isabela Reid '14 has won best cinematography at the California Independent Film Festival's Iron Filmmaker Contest.

Isabela is the daughter of Carmen Reid '91 and a niece of Joseph (Pepe) Davis '85 and Jordi Davis '86.

The short film also won best use of theme and was given honorable mention in the contest. Filmmakers were given the theme "There's no place like home" and were given 24 hours to create a 3-minute film.

There were 25 entries, and most of the other directors were college students. Isabela's short film will join the five other top films and be presented at the Sapporo Film Festival in Japan in September. To watch click here.  

"This is fantastic work by Isabela: A very well-done short film," said Principal Simon Chiu.

Alumni Council Will Send Survey in Early May  

The SJND Alumni Council is an advisory group that will roll out an Alumni Association later this year. They have met twice to discuss alumni engagement and are putting together a survey to find the best ways to keep grads connected to Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School.

Keep an eye out for the survey in early May and please take some time to complete it. The survey will be sent by email and also by regular mail. If you know SJND alumni who would like to receive it by email and who don't receive this newsletter, please ask them to contact alumni director Suzanne Martin at 510-995-9456.

Your feedback will help the Alumni Council and the school serve you better. "The school has some great events, but we want to get more alumni to come to them," said Kerry Plain '70. The Council wants to plan events that will be fun and interesting for alumni.

Members of the Alumni Council will be at the Alumni Baseball Game on Saturday, April 21. Stop by their booth if you'd like to join or find out more about the SJND Alumni Association. Members of the Alumni Council include Bob Pola '57, Earl Medeiros '58, Harold Boscovich '59, Bill Crittondon '63, Janice Cantu '66, Cynthia Lacroix '67, Kerry Plain '70, Mike Taylor '70, Phil Sandri '83, John Campbell '88, Cathy Gacad '93, Jen Rodrigues '96, Geena Serles '10 and Brendan Chai '11. If you're interested in helping, we are in need of alumni from the early '00s, but all classes are encouraged to participate. Contact Suzanne Martin for more info on how you can get involved.

You're Invited on the "Gardens Galore" Garden Tour

The St. Joseph Garden Club is hosting its 18th annual "Gardens Galore" Garden Tour on May 20, and guests will be treated to a lovely Japanese garden, complete with a tea house, koi pond and rock bridge.

"There will also be a Victorian garden that really takes you back to 1890," said Kitty Long, chair of the Garden Club.

The self-guided tour includes six gorgeous Alameda gardens and begins at 11 a.m., rain or shine, and continues through the day until 5 p.m.  

Reservations in advance are $20.On the day of the tour, tickets are $25. Proceeds benefit Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School and St. Joseph Elementary School. To buy tickets  

There also will be a garden boutique with a large selection of handcrafted items from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is located in the Quad at SJND.

In addition, guests are invited to a wine tasting in one of the gardens on Friday, May 18, to kick off the Gardens Galore weekend. The cost of the wine tasting is $50, and it includes the Garden Tour on Sunday, as well. Because of the popularity of the wine tasting, this event is limited to 100 people.

For information or to make reservations, call 510-995-9544 or visit www.alamedagardentour.com.

7th Annual Ray Freitas Alumni Baseball Game is April 21

Come by to play or to cheer on your favorite Pilot players. Bring the family for a fun day at the field. The Boosters will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs following the game. The Alumni Council will also be on hand to talk about the SJND Alumni Association, which will be rolled out later this year.

If you are interested in playing or need more information, please contact Coach Mark Castillo at mcastillo@sjnd.org.

Update Magazine Focuses on Alumni Tradition of Service

The Spring 2012 issue of SJND's Update magazine was just published and mailed, and you can view the magazine here  if you haven't received your copy.

The cover story of this issue is about young SJND alums who embrace global citizenry and are taking the school's proud tradition of service abroad and helping at an international level.  

The cover features a photo of Dr. Sharine Thenard '94, who was recognized last month as one of Girls Inc.'s Women Who Dare for her leadership, especially on issues that affect children. The magazine includes the story of how Sharine took her dental staff to Jamaica and provided dental care to dozens of children there. 

The magazine also includes campus news, an update on sports called "Pilot Pride" and alumni notes to keep you up to date on what your classmates are doing. To subscribe, contact the school to make sure we have your contact information.

Spring Festival of Music, Art Exhibit on Tap

Enjoy student performances of the great classical composers and jazz masters at the Spring Festival of Music at SJND. This event is 7 p.m. April 26 in the Kelly Gymnasium. Students from Advanced Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Beginning Band and Vocal Rush will be performing. Admission is free, and there will be refreshments.

And, on May 3, there will be a gallery-style exhibition and reception showcasing the talents of gifted student artists in Notre Dame Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. Students from Art I, Art 2 Drawing and Painting, Photography, Digital Illustration, Desktop Publishing and Design, Art III, Art IV and Advanced Placement Art classes will display their work. Come enjoy a relaxing evening of art, some tasty bites to eat and beverages. See you there!

Little Shop of Horrors Enchants Sold-Out Audiences

For the spring musical at SJND, students sang, danced and acted their way through an amazing production of Little Shop of Horrors, the story of the nerdy florist who falls in love and gets the girl - with the help of a giant man-eating plant.

"The performers play their roles as if the parts were written for them," the review in the Alameda Journal reported. "Bespectacled Dion Harris is terrific as the classic nerd, Seymour, deftly moving and singing with a voice that rings."

The show, put on by the SJND Theatre Company under the direction of Carol Karaguez, Jen Dlugosh and Didi Kubicek, sold out opening night, as well as the two final performances last weekend.

"Little Shop of Horrors is a story that is enjoyable on several levels," according to the Journal review. "There is mystery about the purpose and origins of the peculiar plant. And there is a tender love tory involving two young people who feel they are inferior, Seymour and pretty little Audrey."

Coach Gordie Johnson's Son Joins the 49ers

Gordie Johnson, former assistant basketball coach at SJND under Frank LaPorte in the 1990s, is the proud papa of Josh Johnson, the brand new 49ers backup quarterback.

Coach Harbaugh and Josh Johnson

"Yeah, it's pretty exciting," said Gordie Johnson, now basketball coach at University of California, Santa Cruz, at last week's Warriors game. Johnson helped coach the Pilots to back-to-back Div. 1 state championships in 1991 and 1992.

Josh Johnson, who graduated from Oakland Tech, is reuniting with his former college coach, Jim Harbaugh, for whom he played at the University of San Diego. To read more

New! Come to the Pilots and Pancakes Breakfast

SJND Boosters are hosting the 1st Annual Pilots and Pancakes breakfast on April 22, and filling up on pancakes, bacon and sausage never tasted so good because the entire event benefits SJND athletics.

Stop by Notre Dame Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., through the entrance on Lafayette Street, and enjoy a plate of pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage. Coffee and juice, too. For adults, $7, seniors and students, $5, and children under 5 are free. Can't stay for breakfast? Donations will be happily accepted.

For more information, please contact Athletic Director Chris Pondok at 995-9434 or email boosters@sjnd.org. Tickets can be purchased at the door, and there will also be a 50/50 raffle with $2 tickets.

Baseball Team to Play at Oakland Coliseum

In the opportunity of a lifetime, the Pilots baseball team has been invited to play on the major league field at the Oakland coliseum at 10 a.m. on  May 5 in an exhibition game against Oakland Tech High School. Ticket order form 

"It's really exciting," said baseball coach Mark Castillo. "We're looking forward to it." The game is part of the Dave Stewart/Oakland A's High School Baseball Showdown at the Oakland Coliseum.

The event is hosted by De La Salle High School, with proceeds going to the Oakland A's Community Fund that benefits Oakland youth baseball programs. Stewart is the former major-league pitcher who played high school ball at St. Elizabeth High School.

All students, families and alumni are invited to join SJND and the Pilots at the coliseum! Tickets are $10 for adults and kids 14 and under are free. For more information, contact SJND Athletic Director Chris Pondok. Go Pilots!

SJND Monthly Alumni E-Newsletter