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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Our Benedictine values of hospitality and community were in full force at yesterday's Open House. Our recently decorated campus, with an amazing display of holiday beauty, welcomed nearly 600 prospective students and families eager to explore and learn about our unique educational approach. So many of you made the day special with your presence and warmth, sharing your personal Priory experiences. Our faculty, coaches, counselors, moderators, and Monks passionately showcased their dedication to developing our students in and outside the classroom and continue to amplify the graces of Priory. Yesterday, we demonstrated our academic excellence, a strong sense of community, and the best of our Benedictine values.
We often say your child will be known, loved, and supported at Priory; because of that, they are challenged and transformed. Our goal is to meet our students wherever they are and be present as the blessings of Priory transform them into confident individuals ready to share their gifts and talents with others so that they can live meaningful and balanced lives. It is a gift that you are part of Priory, and we are grateful to partner with you during these transformative years. Thank you for sharing the best of yourselves with our community!
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Patrick
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IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, December 9
+ 11th Grade College Counseling Parent Coffee, 8:30 AM
Tuesday, December 10
+ Common Sense Connected Schools Webinar, 9 AM
Wednesday, December 11
+ US & MS Parent Hike & Coffee, 9:10 AM
+ 9th/10th Grade College Counseling Office Hours, 12 PM
Thursday, December 12
+ Advent Mass - Dress Up Day
Friday, December 13
+ Study Days - School in Session, 9 AM - 2:45 PM
+ Gala Party: Holiday Flower Arranging Class & Lunch
+ Pre-Concert Winter Social, 6 PM
+ Winter Concert, 7 PM
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CLASS LEVEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
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đ SEND HOLIDAY CHEER NOTES TO FACULTY & STAFF
We invite you to write holiday wishes for our staff and faculty members.
Festive cards are available in the Founders Hall lobby, the Student Center, and the MS Offices. You may also use your own card if you prefer.
Please clearly write the recipient's name on your note to ensure it is delivered correctly. Submit your notes by Friday, December 13, in the holiday mailboxes located in the same areas. They will be delivered to staff and faculty before Winter Break.
Thank you for showing appreciation to the members of our Priory community during this holiday season!
đFINALS SNACKS for Upper School and Middle School
The week of December 16 is Finals Week for upper school students and the last academic week for middle school students. Parents, please sign up here to contribute some yummy, nutritious snacks and help to set up and clean up. This is a welcome boost for all of our students in the final push of the semester. We are enlisting upper school and middle school parent help this year to provide ample snacks for all students, regardless of grade!
đś PRE-CONCERT WINTER SOCIAL THIS FRIDAY!
Join us for a festive evening of holiday cheer in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Lobby!
Date: Friday, December 13, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Get into the holiday spirit before enjoying the evening's music performance. Bring a Treat to share and spread some seasonal joy! It is a perfect opportunity to connect with friends and meet new people. We will also have performing arts merchandise. All are welcome. Please refer to this link for more details and to sign up.
âď¸ AN ADVENT MINI-RETREAT with Father Matthew
Are you seeking a respite of peace from the busyness of the season?
On December 15, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Fr. Matthew will host an Advent Pause in Founders Hall. This mini-retreat will offer time to reflect on the deeper meaning of Advent and Christmas and ponder the gifts of light, life, and love this season provides.
There will be a presentation, time for quiet reflection, shared experience, fellowship, and refreshments. This experience could pair well with the Advent Vespers experience in the chapel from 5 to 6 pm. Vespers is an annual tradition at Priory, and offers an hour of sacred readings and song that captures the beauty and mystery of this blessed season.
Please RSVP here if you are interested in attending the Advent Pause.
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âď¸ ADVENT VESPERS
December 15, 2024, 5:00 pm, the Priory Chapel.
Join our monks for this festive annual tradition: a service in the chapel filled with songs, readings, and prayer. All are welcome! If you enjoy singing, consider participating in the Vespers choir. You donât need to be a professionalâjust someone who loves to sing!
Rehearsals will be held in the Woodside Priory Chapel on December 10th and 12th from 7 to 9 p.m. Participants must attend both rehearsals. The call time on December 15th is 2:30 p.m.
If you want to participate in this festive and prayerful event, please email Mary Carroll at mcarroll@prioryca.org or attend the first rehearsal.
PRIORY WINTER CONCERT 2024
The Annual Woodside Priory Winter Concert is on Friday, December 13th, at 7:00 pm in the PAC. Come support our very own Priory musicians in the Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Middle School Choir, Chamber Singers, and Concert Choir as they perform the sounds of the holiday! We hope to see you all there!
ADVENT MASS IS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
Just a reminder for Mass dress code:
On Mass Days, students should wear slacks or skirts (no jeans, leggings, or shorts) and either a solid navy blue blazer or solid navy sweater (e.g., cardigan or crew neck sweater) over a white collared shirt or blouse and shoes in good repair. Crocs, UGGS, flip flops/slides, or similar lounge footwear are prohibited. Skirt/dress length must lay at a minimum of mid-thigh.
EXAMS FAST APPROACHING!
Get readyâFall Exams are almost here! To help you prepare, we've set aside "Study Days" on Friday, December 13, and Monday, December 16. These are regular school days dedicated to review sessions, practice tests, and more.
Quick Tip: Check the Fall Exam schedule below and plan your study time! Ms. Twedt will contact you directly for those needing test accommodations.
GRATITUDE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
In partnership with Sacred Heart, Menlo School, and the Menlo Park Rotary Club, we collected nearly 500 turkeys, hams, and over 600 canned goods for St. Anthonyâs Padua Dining Room. On Thanksgiving, our friends there reported serving over 700 meals over the course of 2.5 hours.
We are grateful to our volunteers who helped get turkeys and hams loaded on collection day, Genevieve DesJardins and Matthew Sun for their leadership in organizing the Upper School Advisory session and service outing to St. Anthonyâs, and all student volunteers who helped on collection day!
Thank YOU SO MUCH for responding to the call from St. Anthonyâs to collect much-needed food for their clients, which will be a resource during the holiday seasons and beyond!
"EXPLORATIONS IN GLASS" AT THE KRIEWALL-HAEHL GALLERY
Dates: Nov 19, 2024 - Jan 27, 2025
Step into a world of beauty and creativity with Karen Urbanek's stunning kiln-formed glass vessels and nature-inspired sketches. Each piece, crafted in her Portola Valley studio, reflects the harmonious blend of organic forms and inventive techniques.
Join us at The Kriewall-Haehl Gallery to experience the captivating compilation of color, texture, and light.
đ Explore more at Urbanekglass.com
đˇ Follow her on Instagram @urbanekglass
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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
Dear Upper School Families,
Thank you to everyone who attended our Grade-Level Cafecitos last week. If you couldnât make it, please check your email for the slides, and feel free to reach out with any questions.
As we approach Finals Week, I want to highlight several resources that make Priory such a special place:
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Office Hours: Every faculty member has posted their Office Hours. Encourage your child to take advantage of this time to ask questions, review material, or clarify concepts with their teachers.
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The Learning Center: Open before school and after school until 4:30, the Learning Center is a quiet, supervised space for students to complete work before co-curricular activities.
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Academic Support: If your child is struggling academicallyâand itâs not the kind of productive struggle that leads to growthâplease donât hesitate to reach out to Dr. Christensen, Ms. Twedt, or me. Weâre here to ensure the learning process is both challenging and enjoyable.
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Wellness Support: Our incredible Wellness Counseling team continues to build meaningful relationships with students across campus, offering safe spaces and mental health support. If you believe your child could benefit from a check-in with the Wellness team, please let us know.
Thereâs so much to look forward to in the coming weeksâgrade-level events, the Winter Concert, sports games, gratitude cards for our faculty and staff, snacks during finals, and more. Donât miss out on these exciting moments!
Iâm incredibly proud of the dedicated adults who care for your children and deeply grateful for your partnership and trust. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Ms. Ana Cortez-HernĂĄndez
Head of Upper School
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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
MS Families,
We had a wonderful SECRET SANTA WEEK! Thank you to all of you for helping make it magical.
We are in the home stretch of 2024! We have a few weeks left of semester 1. We finish up with our "finals" week, which, for middle school students, is a hybrid of some assessments, quizzes, projects, etc. Our middle schoolers have few true cumulative exams (advanced math in 8th grade, perhaps) but will practice the flow of the exam week (12/17-12/20). We have early dismissal starting on Tuesday, Dec 17th. Tuesday - Thursday (12:30 pm dismissal). The last day of school before the holiday break is Friday, December 20 (dismissal at 10:30 am). Upon return on Wednesday, January 8, all MSers will have new electives, and 6th graders will start their World Language class. Students should check Blackbaud to see where they are heading!
Middle School Courtyard is still on track! Recently, the focus has been on the walkways and amphitheater sitting area leading to the Pavilion. We are excited to see the progress. Thank you for your patience with the construction zone at drop off/pick up.
Special gratitude goes to all the students and parents who helped with the Open House yesterday. The middle school panel and all of the tour leaders were awesome. Thank you all for your time over the weekend sharing Priory with all of our visitors! Your participation makes a huge difference!!
Panther Cubs: Congrats for BEING CAUGHT BEING GOOD! Stop by Ms. Ambler's door if you haven't received your prize yet!
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US GIRLS BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS
The Panthers finished 3-0 and won the Kelly Shea Gallo Tournament championship hosted by Mills High School last week, defeating Lowell, Lick Wilmerding, and Mills.
vs Lowell
Senior Vienn Sheng made 5 (3's), scoring 15 Points; Senior Nani Tuigamala added 10 points and 5 Rebounds, and Senior Natalie Neumann added 8 points and 2 Steals
vs Lick Wilmerding
Senior Vienn Sheng knocked down 6 (3's) and scored 20 points, Junior Jordyn Moss scored 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
vs Mills
Junior Adelaide Chan scored 9 points, and 2 steals, Junior Ugreat Daniels added 9 points and 4 rebounds.
MS ATHLETICS VA & VB SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS
On Tuesday, December 3, the VB Soccer team hosted Crystal Springs, and it was a whole-squad effort! In the opening five minutes, Adeline scored a beauty; the goalie came out to challenge her, and she put the ball right past her with a finesse touch. At the halfway point, Shay kicked from the far right outside the box to add another one to the scoreboard. Within the next 5 minutes, Adeline got credited for a second goal as she was the last Priory player to touch the ball before it bounced off the goalie and a defender before crossing the goal line! Shay kicked a giant one over the head of the keeper, once again from far outside the box. Priory led 4-0 at halftime, thanks to great pressure on offense and excellent defense led by Sophia in the cage. In the second half, Sophia took to the field, and players shifted to alternate positions. Sophia came incredibly close to scoring off one of her seven shots and was an excellent outlet and passer. Usually one of our last lines of defense, Zola had an opportunity to shoot from outside the box and added another to the tally. Josie defended the cage for Priory in the second half, but Crystal managed to get one past her with about 12 minutes left. Valeria got on the board for Priory with the final goal as she snuck one past the keeper in the middle of a crowded scramble. Awesome ball movement and communication all day for Priory, ending in a 6-1 victory!
On Thursday, December 5, the VA hosted Pinewood, and all of our players rose to the occasion, for a great challenge. Pinewood had emerged as the dominant team in MS Soccer, posting a recent destruction of another team 9-0. Priory was ready for the challenge. It was the most physically intense game so far, and the field was slick. Bodies were flying, literally! Sophia had 8 huge saves in the first half, and Priory dominated time of possession with excellent communication and passing. Riley took advantage of Pinewood's keeper being far out and kicked a huge one into the goal with great precision. Adeline scored next for Priory to lead 2-0! With 5 minutes left in the first half, Pinewood scored twice to tie it up. Pinewood took the lead 3-2 in the second half, and the battle continued. Valentina made a perfect pass to Adeline and she tied it up for Priory with 23 minutes left! It was evenly played until Pinewood scored with 3 minutes left. Even in the waning minutes, Priory came close, but we lost with a final score of 3-4. We can not say enough about how well our team handled the physicality of the game and played with a ton of heart while showcasing their skills! Intense!
The final 2 VA games of the season are Monday, December 9 vs Crystal, and Wednesday, December 11 vs Castilleja (team end-of-season celebration immediately following the game on Wednesday). GO PRIORY!
VARSITY A BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS
The Varsity A basketball team battled hard last week, going 1-1 to improve their record to 4-2 overall and holding onto third place in the competitive WBAL.
Facing the league-leading Harker team on their home court in front of a raucous crowd, the Varsity squad delivered Harkerâs toughest challenge of the season despite a 65-52 loss. Osei Johnson continued his scoring spree with a game-high 21 points. Taiye Sobomehin added 12 points and 4 assists, while Caden Beck contributed a strong 11-point, 8-rebound performance. Nathan Hoch anchored the interior with 6 points and 9 rebounds, and Jon Tian chipped in with 2 gritty points to keep the team within striking distance. Udi Darin provided energy with 2 points and 4 rebounds.
Harkerâs blistering shooting, 7 made three-pointers, ultimately proved too much to overcome, but the teamâs effort demonstrated they are ready to contend with the best.
The team returned home and found their groove in a commanding 48-30 win over Pinewood. Once again, Osei Johnson led the way with 23 points, while Taiye Sobomehin supported with 11 points and 5 assists. Birthday boy Caden Beck celebrated with 9 points and 10 rebounds, dominating the glass.
Krish Agarwal made an impactful return from injury, providing excellent defense and contributing 2 points from the guard position. Udi Darin added 2 points and 3 rebounds, while Nirvaan Nair delivered a dagger three-pointer in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
With contributions from across the roster, the Varsity A team continues to show their depth and resilience as they gear up for the end of the season.
 BOYS US BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS
The boysâ basketball team remains unbeaten at 3-0 after a commanding 2-0 start at the Redwood Classic Tournament. In their opening game against Averroes, the team showcased their offensive firepower, lighting up the scoreboard with an impressive 91-point performance.
Jai Gerrodette led the charge with a game-high 23 points, setting the tone for the teamâs explosive attack. Teddy delivered a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor. Noah Gallon was a force defensively and offensively, tallying 16 points and snagging 5 steals to disrupt Averroesâ rhythm.
With contributions coming from across the roster, the team is riding high on momentum and looks poised to continue their strong tournament run.
Game two of the Redwood Classic Tournament was one for the record books as Jai Gerrodette put on a shooting clinic, sinking a school-record 10 three-pointers, including a blistering 9-of-12 performance in the first half. Gerrodetteâs dazzling display of long-range shooting propelled him to a game-high 34 points and ignited the teamâs high-octane offense.
Balazs Nyikos delivered a rare and impressive triple-double, contributing across the board with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Noah Gallon added a dynamic 25 points, while Teddy Xanthopoulos rounded out the scoring attack with 20 points of his own.
The teamâs relentless pressure defense, anchored by the collective efforts of Charlie Conn, Aidan Ji, Caden Harris, Lincoln Barnard, Max Grudin, Michael Hildebrandt, and Harrison Kim, stifled the opposition and fueled fast breaks all game long.
With an electrifying combination of record-breaking performances and team-wide contributions, the boysâ basketball team continues to make a statement at the Redwood Classic, building momentum for what promises to be a thrilling season.
GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS
The Varsity Girls Soccer team secured their second win of the season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Design Tech this Thursday. The Panthers exhibited strong dominance throughout the game, showcasing exceptional teamwork in both attacking and defensive plays. Itzel Chavez was once again a reliable presence in goal, thwarting powerful shots and effectively handling 1v1 situations. The defense, comprised of Fiona Ross, Maddie Kacin, Eila Sawhney, Quinn Holmes, Adriana Duarte-Edwards, and Claudia Duarte-Edwards, played robustly, contributing not only to the defense but also supporting the attack. In midfield, Sophie Chen, Ariella Klausner, Amelia Pei, and Morgan Dobrenski acted as a crucial link, facilitating smooth transitions between defense and attack. On the offensive front, Maddie Baszucki, Ruby Richards, Ella Nuchi, Suki Yu, Chloe Op Den Kamp, and Olivia Franko spearheaded a creative and assertive attack. The goals for the Panthers were scored by Ariella Klausner, Ruby Richards, and Amelia Pei.
FRESHMAN BOYS BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS
The freshman boys hoops squad took on two formidable foes this week, in Carlmont and Saratoga. Despite the glaring difference in these schools' size compared to Priory, they stepped up to the challenge, barely losing to Carlmont and coming out with a convincing win against Saratoga. In both games, the Panthers were led by the triple-threat scoring abilities of Eli Ali, Marcus Guo, Kieran Cassidy, and Luke Ranzetta, who proved they could score from almost anywhere on the court. The team's defense showed up big when it mattered, smothering opponents in the paint and on the perimeter.
UPPER SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE
TUESDAY
Girls Soccer @ CupertinoHigh School 6:00
Boys Soccer @ KIPP at Independence High School 7:00
WEDNESDAY
Boys JV Basketball @ Bellarmine Prep 4:30
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Hillsdale High School 6:30
THURSDAY
Boys Soccer @ Westmoor High School 3:30 (2:00 dismissal)
Girls Soccer vs. Oceana High School 3:30 (2:30 dismissal)
Girls Basketball vs. Clovis North 5:00
Boys JV Basketball @ Bellarmine Prep Tournament TBD
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Burlingame Tournament TBD
FRIDAY
Girls Basketball vs. Centennial High School 4:00
Boys JV Basketball @ Bellarmine Prep Tournament TBD
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Burlingame Tournament TBD
SATURDAY
Girls Basketball @ Vanden High School at UC Berkeley 6:45
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