As Braves in this season of giving, we have the opportunity to spread joy to others for the holidays through Bosco’s Finest Club’s Toy Drive and the Counseling Department’s Annual Blanket Drive.
The final week of school is upon us, and the students of St. John Bosco High School are getting ready to enjoy a long awaited Christmas break. But before students head off for the holiday, there are some opportunities to give back to people in need of some joy and warmth this season.
There are two charities being held here at Bosco: a Toy Drive sponsored by the Bosco’s Finest Club and the Annual Blanket Drive held by the Counseling Department.
First is the Toy Drive being sponsored by the Bosco’s Finest Club, led by senior Joel Ambriz and moderated by history teacher Eduardo Diaz. Bosco’s Finest, a group that was recently formed this year, is a campus service club that focuses on helping the Bosco community. One of their major goals this year is to make this Christmas a special one for kids who wouldn’t be receiving any gifts.
“Club members wish to share the good blessings we have received and allow others to feel the warmth and love that exists here at St. John Bosco,” said Mr. Diaz. “We want our immediate community to realize that Bosco remains an open schoolfor everyone to resource.”
Any new or gently used toys can be dropped off at Mr. Diaz’s classroom in room 212. All of the donated toys will be sent to Ford Elementary and Toys for Tots at Our Lady of Talpa, both in East L.A.
The members of Bosco’s Finest hope to spread cheer and joy to kids in the surrounding L.A. community this Christmas.
Alongside the toy drive, there is also the Annual Blanket Drive that is being held by the Counseling Department.
This yearly tradition for the Counseling Department to give back has been pioneered by Bosco counselor Omar Delgado. Mr. Delgado has been doing this blanket drive since he was a wrestling coach, starting almost 30 years ago.
“The main goal of the blanket drive is to help those less fortunate,” said Mr. Delgado.
There are drop off boxes in front of the school lobby where anyone can leave any new or gently used blankets. These blankets will be delivered to the Los Angeles Catholic Worker Hospitality Kitchen and The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles.
Mr. Delgado and everyone in the Counseling Department believe that giving during this time of year and helping the less fortunate is important because that is the biggest part of what Christmas is all about.
“Bosco men should strive to be men of service and compassion for others. St. John Bosco [said], ‘Let us strive to fare well in this life and in the next’,” said Mr. Delgado.
Legendary St. John Bosco High School disruptor, Mr. McGueber, aims to sell hot chocolate to students during break to fund more devious schemes.
With finals week in full swing, Mr McGueber plans to capitalize on cold Winter mornings by selling his famous hot chocolate to students in the quad. The special hot chocolate costs only a dollar, plus a special tax set by Mr McGueber.
“Look, I’m taking a little break from being evil and giving back to the community by making them pay for said things,” said Mr. McGueber. “But I run a business here, so I can’t give stuff out for free.”
While this looks good in theory – being a nice way to calm students down during their stressful finals – students and staff have started to figure out that McGueber has some ulterior motives.
“When I saw that Mr McGueber was going to sell his special hot chocolate, I knew it was going to be some type of scam,” said senior Bruno Salsameda. “He got like $15 million from the Tyson fight. Why does he need more money?”
Students have also witnessed Mr. McGueber infiltrating the kitchen. Luckily, a student was able to sneak their way into the kitchen to see what Mr.McGueber was cooking.
“The hot chocolate isn’t even hot chocolate, it’s just hot water with dirt in it,” said senior Jacob Huxen. “Honestly, I’m used to [Mr. McGueber’s] antics, so it doesn’t even phase me.”
When confronted about the scam, McGueber was visibly confused and hurt.
“How dare you compare my grandma’s recipe to dirty water?” said McGueber. “It’s been passed through my family for generations!”
Students doubt that it has been passed down generations, as the drink looks more like a sewer runoff than hot chocolate.
“The man’s family must be from the gulag to think that mud shake is tasty,” said senior Evan Urbina. “We need to stop it from reaching the next generation.”
Newfound security footage of Mr. McGueber making his hot chocolate shows him getting water from a hose to make the hot chocolate. He then tries to use Hamburger Helper to see if that could help. To his surprise, it didn’t work. Eleven minutes into the footage, he stops and starts to exit from the kitchen. He then trips, spilling everything.
When Mr. McGueber was shown this footage he was mildly flabbergasted.
“That is not me, guys. That is my arch-nemesis and brother-in-law, Mr. Shank,” said Mr McGueber. “Clearly, he doesn’t like me, which is why he’s trying to interfere with my plans.”
Despite not taking any responsibility for his actions, Mr. McGueber still plans to sell his famous “hot chocolate.” He also plans to sell off-brand snacks with his dirty water drink. In fact, he actually made these snacks himself in his evil lair.
“Look, I want the quality of the snacks and food to be the best for my new victims,” said Mr.McGueber. “I’ve decided to add all the bad chemicals into my off-brand snacks so they can taste better.”
Clearly, McGueber is in denial that his hot chocolate and snacks will be tasty. Some students say he shouldn’t be in the food business at all.
“If he can’t succeed with his simple inventions, how would he be better at making snacks?” said senior Noah Wayner. “I’d rather have him try and take over the world than do this.”
Mr. McGueber also plans to donate the money raised from his “hot chocolate” to his charity.
“I’ll be donating to my ‘McCharity,’ known for creating many money laundering schemes,” said Mr McGueber. “I’m being charitable to myself to show that I’m a decent human being!”
Students will be able to buy his “hot chocolate” and snacks from December 16-19 in the MPR, or wherever McGueber feels like setting up.
In the first weeks of Advent, it’s important to prepare for the coming of our savior. Here’s how.
Advent is an important time for Catholics. It’s a time of anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ that begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and marks the beginning of the Christian Liturgical year.
Because of how important this time is, many Christians may be wondering, “What should I do to prepare?” There are many things to do to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, and they aren’t that time-consuming—all you need to do is set aside some time for God.
The biggest and most impactful thing you can do is to pray. It doesn’t have to take long, just a minute or two. Praying is our way of talking and communicating with God. Praying doesn’t have to be in a church or somewhere specific—just a quiet place to communicate with God is enough. Whether it be before meals, when you wake and lie down or whenever you have time, prayer is something we should all strive to do more of.
Something else important to do during Advent is to go to Mass. Going on Sunday or whenever there is a service is great because it allows us to receive the Eucharist. One of the days that just happened was a holy day of obligation: the Immaculate Conception.
It took place on the eighth of December this year and is one of the most important days of the liturgical year. It’s the day that Mary’s mother, Saint Ann, conceived the Virgin Mary. Because she was untainted by her original sin, Mary would be able to carry Jesus when she grew up.
The Immaculate Conception is significant to the Catholic Church because it’s one of the most important days in history. It’s a vital day in the Church because of this and is a big step towards Jesus’s lineage on earth.
Another way to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ is to read the bible. Reading a few verses daily can help you connect with your faith and understand how to think and approach things in this important time.
Many people decorate their houses around this time of year—not just with a Christmas tree and stockings by the fireplace, but with a wreath, sometimes on the door, or with three purple and pink candles. Additionally, families often place a small nativity set by the fireplace or somewhere else in the house.
If you plan on going to mass at least once in the coming weeks, I’d recommend going on Christmas morning, as it’s (other than Easter) the most important day of the Christian liturgical Year.
From November 15th to November 17th, the St. John Bosco Varsity Esports team participated in the Cal Expo Tournament in Sacramento.
Competing against some of the best college and high school teams in the region, Bosco played Valorant and League of Legends at the tournament. Unlike the half-dozen or so esports events that take place around Southern California, this tournament featured dozens of teams from all over the western United States. This was a moment to validate the countless hours of practice that led to their selection for the event.
The Cal Expo venue was buzzing with energy as teams from universities like Boise State, UC San Diego and Arizona State competed alongside top high school programs in a landmark esports event. As one of the few high schools competing in a largely collegiate field, Bosco’s players had the rare opportunity to interact with college teams and learn from their experiences.
St. John Bosco’s team might have been one of the youngest and least experienced, but they didn’t let that hold them back.
“This was their first time doing something like this—traveling, sleeping in a hotel room, playing on a stage. It’s extremely stressful, but I told them to just have fun. This is a learning experience to prepare them for the next time,” said coach and operations managers, Asher Boulton.
Bosco’s Valorant team faced tough opposition, including powerhouse programs like Huntington Beach High School and Long Beach City College. Boulton expressed his amazement at how precise their opponents were.
“Literally everything they were doing was on point—the way they were dodging and [moving]. It was mesmerizing.”
One of the biggest highlights came off the stage. The head coach of Boise State University’s esports program, widely regarded as one of the top collegiate programs, noticed Bosco’s team.
“The Boise State coach came up to talk with us because he loves our program,” Boulton shared. “He told me he wants to recruit players from Bosco’s team in the future.”
Boise State’s esports program is known for full-ride scholarships, a professional coaching staff and robust player support systems. The potential partnership between Bosco and Boise State could open doors for Bosco’s players.
“It’s an insane program,” Boulton said. “This connection could mean a lot for our players’ futures.”
In the end, St. John Bosco knocked on the door of the trophy case, coming up just short of their goal of winning the championship. Instead, they walked away with a valuable lesson that will serve them well in the future: Know your opponent before stepping onto the mat. For Boulton, the tournament was about more than just wins and losses.
“This was their first big tournament, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they handled themselves,” he said. “They’ve got the talent and the drive, and I’m excited to see where they go from here.”
The future team ambitions for upcoming tournaments make the Cal Expo experience with Boise State even more potent. If Bosco’s esports team continues to tap into growth and resilience, its moment in high school esports will continue to cast a long shadow as a vibrant memory.
by Macade Maxwell and Owen Stelzer, co-Sports Editors
After a remarkable 2024 season that saw the St. John Bosco varsity basketball team claim the CIF State Division One Championship, the Braves enter the new season with high expectations. Ranked number five in the nation by MaxPreps and deemed “the team to beat in high school basketball” by Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Sondheimer, the Braves are poised to make another deep run in both state and national competition.
Photo by @BoscoBasketball on X, formerly known as Twitter
Head Coach Matt Dunn has every reason to be confident. The Braves return an elite core of players that rival any in the country. Among them is junior guard Brandon McCoy, the nation’s top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026, according to On3. Senior guard Elzie Harrington and junior forward Christian Collins join him, forming what Sports Illustrated has titled “arguably the best trio in California.”
The Braves are now off to a promising 7-0 start to begin the season, living up to all the hype thus far. After a dominant 81-40 victory in their season opener against Francis Parker, the Braves headed to Illinois to compete in the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions, which strives to fight against a form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.
The Braves came to play this time around as they dominantly won every game—with final scores of 74-45 against Metamora, 85-38 against Paideia, 77-46 against DeKalb and 72-62 against St. Francis Episcopal to secure the tournament championship. Elzie, Christian and Brandon earned First Team All-Tournament honors with their stellar performances throughout the week. In addition, Elzie won tournament MVP, and Brandon won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
McCoy, who already carries the weight of being the top player in his class, is a clear leader on the team.
“This is a good start to the season, but there’s still a lot of basketball left,” said Brandon. “We just got to keep working, that’s all.”
Bosco’s remaining schedule includes marquee games in Arizona, Massachusetts and, of course, the highly competitive Trinity League, which pits them against top-ranked teams from across the nation.
For the players, these high-profile games are not just opportunities to prove themselves but to grow together as a unit.
“Playing against good teams only helps us out,” said Christian.
While the star players draw much of the spotlight, Coach Dunn emphasizes the importance of the entire roster.
“This team’s depth is what makes us special,” he said. “From the starters to the bench, everyone has a role and everyone contributes.”
That said, carrying some of the top players in the country definitely puts a brighter spotlight on the Braves this season.
“There is certainly more attention (mainly social media attention) on this year’s team than have been in years past,” Coach Dunn said. “That does not add any more pressure, but we certainly are excited about the opportunity of having a great team.”
The Braves beat local rival St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy, ranked #15 in the area according to the Los Angeles Times, by a score of 85-77. As the season continues, Bosco Basketball’s sights are set firmly on a Southern Section and State Open Division Championship, with aspirations of making waves on the national stage.
“Our goal is simple: compete at the highest level,” said Coach Dunn. “We have the talent, we have the experience, and we have the hunger. It’s about putting it all together and seeing where it takes us.”
The team will compete in their very own Braves Varsity Winter Classic this week in the Thunderdome, having won their opening round match up against Fremont by a 64-point margin on Monday. Their next game is tomorrow at 6pm against the winner of Don Bosco Tech and Hesperia.
In a desperate attempt to make some money, famed troublemaker Mr. McGueber challenges Mike Tyson to a boxing match.
Mr. McGueber is no stranger to finding weird ways to try and take over the world. Unfortunately, due to fines issued by The Guild of Non-Heinous Actions (GNHA), his company, Gueber Incorporated, has declared bankruptcy.
Mr. McGueber has expressed his anger at having to go through this experience.
“I didn’t even know that the [GNHA] could give me fines like that,” said Mr. McGueber. “They are literally just there to interfere with my plans.”
Due to this bankruptcy, Mr. McGueber cannot build his infamous gadgets to take over the world.
“Despite my giant loss, I am happy that my sidekick, Squaddle, is still with me,” said Mr. McGueber. “I also don’t pay [Squaddle] at all, why should I?”
With his infinite wisdom, Mr. McGueber has now challenged Mike Tyson to a boxing match. Mr. McGueber has no boxing experience nor boxing training.
“Mike Tyson is 58 years old and weak. My chances of winning have gone up a lot,” said Mr. McGueber.
Netflix has already set up a deal with both participants, in which Mr. McGueber will get $15 million from the match.
“Once I get my $15 million, I won’t even think about saving it. I am going to make bad money decisions,” said Mr. McGueber. “We only live once, baby, I don’t care if I go into debt again.”
Students are confused on how and why Mr. McGueber was able to get a deal to fight Mike Tyson.
“Mr. McGueber can’t fight; he lost to his own shadow! I even have a video of him losing,” said senior Micheal Beaird.
Mike Tyson has made no comment about this whole ordeal. Mr. McGueber has made tons of comments about it.
“This is my redemption arc. This is where I lock in and become a legend in boxing,” said Mr. McGueber.
A lot of people don’t believe that Mr. McGueber can really fight; some even believe that he can’t even fight his own sidekick, Squaddle.
“Look, I know I am supposed to be McGueber’s since day one, but I think he is going to fail miserably,” said Squaddle. “I am currently planning his funeral, ‘cause ain’t no way he is going to survive.”
The fight is happening in the Bosco Quad instead of the Bosco Thunderdome, due to St. John Bosco staff not trusting Mr. McGueber in the gym after the whole “Doomsday Device” fiasco.
The Tyson-McGueber fight will be the final bout of the event. There are other undercard matches, most notably a super heavyweight bout between English teacher, Mr. Vince Vigil, and Vice Principal of Student Conduct, Mr. Bob Linares.
Even though the main event will probably only last a couple of minutes, there are some random names to show up.
“Look, I am all in to watch Mr. McGueber get beat up, but I don’t want to watch Drew Finklebottom vs Locksmith Jones just to watch the main event,” said senior Ayden Fariester.
The card will have some marquee matches including:
Featherweight: Vin Von Vagner vs Joe “The Pound” Steele
Featherweight: Wesmond “Westside” Shaw (C) vs Stin “The Stench” Stinkerson for CKI Championship
Lightweight: Drew Finklebottom (C) vs Locksmith Jones for PPT Championship
Super middleweight: Mr. Finger vs Red Delicious (Loser leaves The Guild of Non-Heinous Actions)
Super middleweight: Lydia “The Snow” Sherman vs Malia Buckson
Super heavyweight: Vince “The Vigilante” Vigil vs Bob “The Builder” Linares
Main Event: Mike Tyson vs Mr. McGueber
The event will be live and streamed on Netflix. It will begin at 9 p.m. ET on December 19, 2024. Tickets will be sold on GoFan and Ticketmaster.
Understanding neurodiversity is vital to accepting those who are neurodivergent. But what is included within neurodiversity and what does being neurodivergent mean?
Image Provided by Ms. Cathy Roohan
School can be difficult due to students’ many challenges, such as time management, difficulties understanding subjects or dealing with the stress of extracurriculars. While many students regularly deal with these obstacles in school, neurodivergent students may have other challenges that they deal with on a daily basis.
Neurodivergence is difficult to label, rather, it could be called an umbrella term that includes many types of differences within the brain. These include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to name a few.
“The definition of being neurodivergent has changed over the decades. It used to generally include those with [ASD] or Aspergers,” Ms. Roohan said. “In recent decades, it has become more inclusive. Now, it generally means a significant difference in the brain.”
Dr. Francesca Po, Bosco’s Coordinator of Youth Ministry (CYM), notes that neurodivergence isn’t necessarily a disorder, but simply a difference in how the brain works.
“Neurodivergence in the educational field is just learning differences – it’s a little bit more [complicated] than that, but it’s when people learn in a different way,” Dr. Po said. “It’s not necessarily good or bad; it’s when the brain functions in a different way.”
In past decades, the perspective on neurodiversity was treated very differently than it is now. Neurodivergent individuals were treated as inferior and they were often segregated from the public.
“When I was in high school, you would have a special education class. Nowadays, people with learning differences are integrated – they’re not separated anymore. That’s a good step forward [in] removing that stigma,” said Dr. Po.
Neurodivergent students often struggle with certain challenges that neurotypical students do not typically struggle with. This can include difficulties focusing, cognitive flexibility (the ability to switch attention between different topics) or understanding certain concepts.
Mr. Miller, science instructor and neurodivergent individual himself, has personally dealt with similar struggles. In response, he’s decided to integrate it into his teaching.
“I became less rigid on deadlines because I understood that when a student has seven teachers and seven assignments and everything else going on in their life, students need [to make] adjustments and work within their parameters to get things done,” said Mr. Miller.
Mr. Miller understands how this can affect students because he’s dealt with it as well. His experience gives him knowledge of how other students feel because he’s been in the same place since he was a student.
“My biggest [challenge] with ADHD is that it wasn’t something that was known or accepted when I was a student. I had to find ways to compensate,” Mr. Miller said. “If you were to look at my notebooks in junior high or college, the borders are covered with doodles because if I didn’t do something while learning, I would become an irritant to those around me and get in trouble.”
This kind of repetitive behavior – Mr. Miller’s doodling, in this instance – is called stimming. It can include rocking in place or tapping their fingers. It’s generally a method to calm themselves or stay occupied. These behaviors help keep them occupied while doing things.
Unfortunately, some stims, such as tapping against a desk or floor, can be loud, and it may be distracting or a source of annoyance for other students to deal with. But it can be very difficult to stop stimming because some neurodivergent individuals require sensory output like touch and sound.
A common misconception surrounding neurodiversity is that some neurodivergent individuals are incapable of learning or are unintelligent. This is largely untrue, as many of history’s great minds have been neurodivergent, according to counselor Ms. Cathy Roohan.
“For example, if you look at some of the geniuses of our history – Mozart or Einstein – those individuals are neurodivergent because of their extremely high intelligence – the significant difference in their brain,” said Ms. Roohan.
Neurodivergent brains develop differently to neurotypical brains. Often, the difference in development causes the neurodivergent individual to have difficulties understanding social cues and body language.
Unfortunately, because of the developmental issues with neurodivergence, they may be the target of harassment. The main reason for the bullying and harassment is the lack of understanding from the bullies, who tend to be neurotypical.
Neurodivergent individuals may become a target of harassment due to their neurodivergence. According to Ms. Roohan, this can be avoided if individuals were to be aware of neurodiversity.
“Sometimes when we don’t understand something, we tend to have misconceptions about their neurodivergent behavior. But if we understand a person’s diverse mind, then we’re more likely to understand and help each other,” said Ms. Roohan. “A lot of the name calling and teasing and bullying is really because we don’t understand each other.”
The growing awareness surrounding neurodiversity has helped the life of neurodivergent individuals and made them feel accepted.
“At first, day-to-day life may seem strange, especially if you’re a little older and just finding out. It may seem odd at first, like you’re sticking out in a crowd, and I found it uncomfortable to talk to my friends, scared of if they would judge me or make fun of me, but now I feel normal because of the people I was able to talk to,” said Ms. Roohan.
Neurodivergence is a convoluted subject, and Ms. Roohan, who’s also the Learning Specialist at Bosco, is happy to share more about it. She’s located in the counseling office on the first floor of the 200 building.
The Brave News 