Author Archives: The Brave News

Life of a Brave: Unsung Hero, Mr. Omar Delgado, Helps Braves Realize Their Dreams

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by Christian Angel, Managing Editor

Mr. Omar Delgado has served the St. John Bosco High School community the past 29 years with the goal of helping every Bosco Brave attend a four-year university through academics and athletics, shining a bright light on the dreams of students. 

Photo by Megan Nash, Director of Digital Marketing & Social Media

Mr. Delgado was born in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and grew up in a family of three brothers and three sisters in El Monte. Although he may not have attended St. John Bosco, he was always involved in wrestling, football and track and field. He admits that he may not have been a really good student throughout his first three years of high school, but starting his senior year, he improved and evolved in his effort and intellect. 

He attended Rio Hondo Community College, later transferring to California State University, Fullerton to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Years later, he went to study and receive his Masters in Education, with an emphasis in Guidance and Counseling, along with a Pupil Personnel Services credential from Point Loma Nazarene University.

Mr. Delgado’s story of joining the Bosco family stems all the way back to the Fall of 1995,

“It was like a phone call from God,” Mr. Delgado said.

Originally, he was working with the California Highway Patrol and ultimately decided that he wanted to resign because he wanted to go back to school. 

The “phone call from God” was from former Athletic Director, Mr. Jack Hastert. Mr. Hastert asked Mr. Delgado if he wanted to be a teacher, along with being the Wrestling Coach for the Bosco Braves. Mr. Delgado said that once he stepped foot on campus, the rest was history. 

During his reign as Wrestling Coach, the Braves won back-to-back CIF Championships in 1999 and 2000 as well as in 2012 and 2013. In 2017 under his leadership, Bosco also won the Masters Championship. With so much success in the wrestling program throughout his over 20 year tenure, he credits Coach Anderson, the current St. John Bosco Head Wrestling Coach, who won a CIF title wrestling for Mr. Delgado.

“Coach Anderson has continued the winning tradition of the St. John Bosco High School wrestling program to the better,” said Mr. Delgado.

Mr. Delgado set a high standard for every wrestler to set a goal for themselves to achieve something they would have never thought of before. His motto for his wrestlers was: “A Dream, A Goal, and A Promise.” This continues to be his motto as a counselor. 

In his time at Bosco, Mr. Delgado has served in various capacities as a dean, coach, teacher and counselor. In his current role as a counselor, when a student comes into his office with a dream of attending a certain university, he works with them by creating a goal in order to achieve these results. 

“When I became counselor, it was like a natural transition, and I think that makes me a really good counselor – to understand the young men and what they’ve been through, what they are going through in their teenage years to advise them well,” said Delgado. 

Many of his former students, come and thank him for all the work he has put in throughout their four years at Bosco advising them and guiding them.

“If you walk into my counseling office, you see my ‘Hall of Fame’ where students have attended or currently attend universities, such as Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, West Point, Air Force Academy, and my ultimate payment is seeing them succeed and contribute to society,” said Delgado. 

Mr. Delgado is the father of two former Bosco Braves, Class of 2019 and 2022, who are now at UCLA and Stanford, and he advises the Class of 2023 to not give up on their dreams – to create a goal and to make their dreams a reality. 

Sports: Valorant Team Wins League, Finishing Undefeated And Advancing To Nationals

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By Carter Daley

Winning is a term that has become familiar term to the St. John Bosco varsity Valorant team. In just three years of having an official Valorant team, Bosco has won two High School Esports League (HSEL) titles.

Photo by @sjbesports

The team is full of young talent, made up of two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman. Captain Max Abrahamson, ranked as the 17th best Valorant player in North America, is only a junior and will get another chance to repeat and become a three-time champion.

“[Winning the HSEL championship] feels like last time: great. But the job isn’t finished. We have to go to Kansas City in May to actually compete for a National Championship,” said Max.

The talent does not just stop at Max, however, as the most highlighted player of the Bosco team is freshman Alex Banyasz, who ranked as the number one player in North America across all Valorant servers in the past month. 

“It’s great playing with Alex. I definitely feel like he can go pro,” Max said.

The Braves had the challenging task of bouncing back in their HSEL league after failing to beat Arcadia High School in the same championship game the previous semester. This emphasized the importance of this rematch, as they had that chip weighing on their shoulders.

This chip carried onto the start of their season this semester, where they held a perfect 8-0 record in the regular season, being the only team that maintained a perfect record. 

With momentum, the Braves would only drop one map during their entire playoff run and cruise into the finals. They would be competing against Quartz Hill High School, a team they lost to the previous season. 

In dominating fashion, this talented squad of youngsters would beat Quartz Hill by a score of 2-0, completing their perfect season, the second championship this team captured in just two years.

“It was mixed feelings of excitement and relief. We’ve been trying to make nationals for three years, and every year, I felt like we had a good team but always seemed to fall short in the playoffs,” said Coach and 2020 Bosco Alum Eli Giangualano. “To have a near-perfect playoff season and end it in such a dominant fashion was rewarding to not only me, but also our captain Max Abrahamson who’s been a part of this team every year.”  

On top of the Valorant team’s recent success, the Rainbow Six Siege team is captained by senior Ezekiel Tejeda. The team that finished their regular season with a record of 4-4 barely clinched a playoff berth, but earning that spot in the playoffs has brought great momentum to the squad. 

With back-to-back upset wins over opponents, the Rainbow Six Siege team will have the opportunity to shock everyone and claim the first championship in program history for the specific game. 

“This team means so much to me,” said Ezekiel. “This is the second time we’ve made it to playoffs, both being this academic year. Even though most of the time was a complete headache for me, I’m still so proud of the young men who will be taking the reins of this team when I graduate”.

With big games on the horizon for Bosco’s Esports program, there will surely be a lot of noteworthy action. The Bosco Valorant team will head to Kansas City on May 20th, and the Rainbow Six Siege team will continue their playoff run tonight.

Life of a Brave: Top Ten Study Tips for AP and Final Exams

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by Mark Lutke

With AP exams and finals approaching, St. John Bosco students may feel stressed or unprepared, but by staying calm and using these well-known study tips, anyone can be prepared to ace all of their tests.

10. Study for tests weeks in advance and avoid cramming.

This is the only way to truly feel comfortable when preparing for any exam. Allotting even just ten minutes a night to review study materials and starting a week or two before a test can be extremely beneficial. Longer review sessions can still be helpful in the days leading up to an exam, but don’t overload yourself because it will more than likely harm your final score.

9. Use flash cards.

As cliché as it sounds, using flashcards whether they be paper-made or digital is undeniably beneficial for many students, especially those studying for exams that involve vocabulary, true or false and multiple-choice questions. Flashcards are most useful in shorter study sessions or as a warmup for longer review.

Some teachers may also allow students to write a select amount of notes on a flashcard of a given size before a test. While reminders can be helpful, it is best not to rely on outside information, except necessary formulas for math or science courses, and instead feel comfortable enough in the content to only require sparse hints or none at all.

8. Study during free time, like at break and lunch or in classes where you might have downtime.

Studying alone or with a group of friends is a productive way to use free time in the upcoming weeks at break, lunch or during Academic Support. Although extracurriculars may clog many students’ after school schedules, there are many opportunities throughout the school day to squeeze in a bit of review.

7. Study where it’s comfortable and quiet.

If you find the sounds of everyday life to be noisy and distracting at times, you may want to study in a secluded or quiet place. Removing distractions is a necessary part of this because technology will overstimulate the brain and make focusing more difficult. For those who do not have access to a quiet or secluded area, it is recommended to study in Bosco’s Learning Commons or a teacher’s classroom.

6. Practice breathing techniques to help center and calm yourself.

Breathing techniques can help you clear your mind and deeply focus on whatever it is you need to do, including studying for finals. Inhaling through your nose for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds and exhaling for eight seconds has been shown to be an effective method. By exhaling for longer periods than you inhale, you are telling your body and mind to relax but also stay alert. This calm and collected mindset is one that is perfect for test taking.

5. Teach the material to others.

Teaching others what you have learned proves to be one of the best ways to truly master content. Along with summarizing what you have learned, teaching others can also help foster a positive mindset. This is because sometimes it is easy to forget that what we learn in school isn’t always common knowledge to others. By giving mock-lectures and talking about course material, one may surprise themselves with how much they actually know. This method can also serve as a much needed break from writing and reading during longer study sessions.

4. Maintain healthy lifestyle by focusing on diet and exercise.

Many people forget that it is hard for your brain to function if your body is lagging behind. When we exercise and eat healthy, blood flow increases in the brain, which improves mental capacity and learning ability. This can be especially helpful for one’s test taking ability. By maintaining an exercise schedule or healthy diet, one can ensure that their brain is firing on all cylinders come test day.

3. Join a study group or start one.

Joining or starting a study group can be a great way to review course content while still being social. It is best to not study with people you are good friends with, but instead with new people or acquaintances. While studying with friends can work for some, many may find themselves becoming distracted and getting sidetracked. Study groups can be especially helpful because you can both learn from and teach to others. While you might take a test alone, studying doesn’t have to be the same.

2. Pay more attention in class.

Many teachers will review material and recap old lectures in the coming weeks. Taking advantage of anything that can help you study includes applying yourself while in the classroom. While it might not be what some want to hear, paying attention in class is crucial to success academically all the time, not just during finals.

1. Most importantly, get eight to ten hours of sleep a night.

Many students often find themselves with distorted sleep schedules due to extracurriculars and homework. But toward the end of the school year, both of these tend to cool down significantly. Take advantage of the extra time and fix your sleep schedule. Go to bed earlier and try to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night in order to be at your best for finals week. Many don’t realize that sleep deprivation is actively harming them and making their lives significantly harder. People who do not get sufficient sleep will have impaired decision-making skills, which could be detrimental for students in need of a grade-boost.

Around Bosco: Friday Night Lights With St. Joseph’s Annual Powder Puff Game At Panish Family Stadium

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by Carter Daley

On Friday, March 24th, St. John Bosco High School hosted a variety of events under the Friday night lights with an action packed Powder Puff Game and a Spring Fest Dance.

Photo by Alex Diaz, Photo Editor

Parents and students were offered the opportunity to come together to watch their very own daughters and classmates compete in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, the Powder Puff Game, an eleven-on-eleven girls flag football game.

The matchup was seen as a high rivalry game between the Donald’s, who consist of Senior St. Joseph Students, versus the Mickey’s, who consist of Junior St. Joseph Students. The Donald’s had something to prove, after losing last year in a close competition to the Class of 2022 Kermit’s. They wanted to make sure they solidified themselves as a team not to mess with. 

“Losing last year was tough. We felt as if we left a lot on the field, but it came up short. We wanted to make sure that did not happen this year so we came ready to play,” said current St. Joseph’s senior Brianna Wright.

The game certainly delivered the excitement. Early in the first half the Mickeys opened up the game with a short rushing touchdown by Mariah Becerra. 

That lead would not last long though, as later in that same half the Donald’s would take back an interception for a touchdown. The play was made by Presley Contreras and got the stands so excited that even the Bosco boy cheerleaders began rushing the field.

“The whole atmosphere was vibrant. All of the Bosco guys had a really fun time cheering and moshing in the end zone was awesome,” said Bosco senior Ahrian McNeil.

The game remained a stalemate, as both defenses played incredibly well with a total of three turnovers in a span of just five minutes. 

The Donald’s had one last chance to take the lead in the game when a deep “Hail, Mary” pass was completed to senior Brooklyn Soto with two seconds left. The next pass unfortunately fell incomplete, finishing the game in an 8-8 tie. 

Although fans were cheering for overtime, the officials were unable to continue the game due to a time shortage. But the fun did not end there, as just around the corner St. John Bosco was hosting a Spring Fest Dance for students. 

Held in the quad, St. John Bosco and St. Joseph students gathered to celebrate the last couple months of the school year. The even featured great music provided by DJ Drip that had students in a free-spirited mood after an exciting game of flag football. The dance was organized by math teacher Ms. Edna Ramirez, Mr. Danny Benitez and Band Director Mr. Ramon Villanueva to raise money for students for the upcoming band trip to Seattle this month. 

“It was a movie. By far the best music out of any social this year. Having it outside also made it better so everyone wasn’t sweating like crazy,” said senior Robert Gonzalez.

As students head into their last two months of the school year, many seniors look ahead forward to Senior Prom, which is just around the corner on April 29th.

Sports: Bosco Track Off To The Races

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by Noah Dawson

St. John Bosco Track starts the season with hopes to win big in the Trinity League and CIF this season, earning a spot as one of the best track programs in Southern California.

Photo by @sjbstudentlife

Excitement is in the air around Bosco Track. The season may be just starting, but the athletes have been working hard all winter to prepare for it, hitting the running drills and practicing their technique. The hard work is starting to pay off, and they are eager to see what they can accomplish on the track.

As the athletes hit the track, the focus is on hard work, dedication, teamwork and faith. They know that the road ahead will be challenging, but they are ready to face those challenges head-on. They are a tight-knit group, and they support each other both on and off the track.

For the seniors on the team, this season holds a special significance. It’s their last chance to compete at the high school level, and they are determined to make it count. Senior Ahrian Mcneil, who is a sprinter on the team, is excited to get back out on the track.

“It’s a really good experience to get back on the track and I’m going put my all into this season,” Ahrian said. “I’ve really just been praying on [the upcoming season] and making sure that not only does God got me but that I have myself. I get that assurance through training.”

Ahrian has recently been offered spots on the Track and Field roster for teams such as North Carolina Agriculture & Technology State University and Chapman University

Senior Harold Munoz, a distance runner who has been out since last season due to a leg injury, is also anxious to begin his senior campaign.

“I’ve been training hard all winter, and I’m ready to see what I can do. This is my last chance to compete at the high school level, so I want to make it a good one and improve from last year,” said Harold.

First-year track athlete, senior Nethaneel Loolo, who competes in the long jump and triple jump, wants to see what he and the team can accomplish this year.

“This is my first season, you know? So I really want to show out and prove that I can do this.” Nethaneel said. “Not just for me, but I want to put on for the school too.”

Both seniors continue to improve and put actions behind their words with Nathaneel leading the team in sprint and hurdles with a 10.92 second time in the 100m sprint and a 23.11 second time in the 200m sprint. Ahrian continues to shine as the team’s prominent hurdle runner, being the leader in both the 110m high hurdles and 300m intermediate hurdles. running a 15.29 second time in the 110m and a 40.88 second time in the 300m.

For Track and Field Head Coach Tim McIntosh, the start of the season is a time to evaluate the team and see where they need to improve.

“Our first few meets are going to be a good gauge of where we’re at as a whole team and where we should be at. We’ll be able to see where we need to make tweaks and make adjustments,” said Coach McIntosh

The Braves have also performed well in the field in addition to the track. Senior Mark Lutke has accepted an offer to California State University, Long Beach to take his talents to their team in the twelve pound shot put and hammer.

Aidan Aldana serves as an asset for the team as he continuously places himself at the top of the leaderboard for long distance events. For the past few meets, he has placed number one for the Bosco team in both the 1600m and 3200m race.

If you’re looking for a way to support the team, come out to their meets and cheer them on. Your support can make a difference and give the athletes the motivation they need to perform their best. 

Spectators can come to check out the Braves on Wednesday, April 5th for the Trinity League Cluster Meet at home on the St. John Bosco Track.

Life Of A Brave: Bosco Hosts Annual Father-Son Mass And Car Show

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by Isaac Mays, Sports Editor

On Sunday, the St. John Bosco Braves student body was provided with a unique social event they could experience with their fathers. A special Mass, breakfast and car show were organized to celebrate the father figures in the Bosco community.

Photo by Rosie Gutierrez

The morning began with a mass celebration in the chapel, which was led by Spiritual Director Father Ted Montemayor. Father Ted led the fifth Sunday of Lent with the story of Lazarus and his resurrection, an inspiring parable about hope for all in attendance.

Soon after Mass concluded, the Braves and their fathers poured outside to begin their breakfast. During the event, vendors sold Bosco-affiliated gear for guests to purchase. Many sports teams and clubs at school also prepared baskets of items for auction.

Meanwhile, residents of the Bellflower area were encouraged to bring their luxury and classic cars to put on display. The car show brought many families together, as a voting process was implemented to determine winners for each car style. Many event patrons appreciated how welcoming and friendly the car owners were, even though they maintained some exceptional higher-end cars.

“My dad and I both got to see some pretty rare cars. We bond over cars, so it was nice to have that at our school,” said senior Ryan Cirrincione. “The Red Chevy Impala was our personal favorite.”

Many boys were happy to share their love of cars with their fathers. An entire fleet of Mustangs were present along with the infamous Jeep Trackhawk mentioned in Lil Baby’s “Life Goes On.” Many of sportier vehicles were fan favorites.

Perhaps the highlight of the event was the tug of war match between fathers and sons. The tug of war concluded with another win for the fathers, marking the third year in a row that they achieved victory over their sons. Many seniors commented how fun this activity was, as they faced off head-to-head against the undefeated “dad strength.”

“It was so fun to compete against my dad,” said senior Eiian Reyes. “My Baba has a lot more strength than I had initially assumed; he ended up being a major player on the parents’ side.”

Overall, the event fostered many relationships that most high school students don’t typically have the opportunity to cultivate, as the morning allowed students to interact with each other’s families.

“My friends and I are close, but I feel like our dads don’t know each other. The Father-Son Mass lets all of us meet and get to know each other better. I wish I could come back next year,” said senior Andrew Rivera.

This father-son tradition is one of many instances that help separate St. John Bosco from other high schools. Bosco tries to emphasize the family component of our community, and experiences like these help make the student body be more mature young men. All students and important male figures in their lives are welcome next year to continue this great tradition.

Around Bosco: Bosco Robotics Team Reaches New Heights 

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by Ed Crowe

Tribe Robotics terminated the competition and secured a second place finish and a ranking of seventh out of the 47 schools that competed in the Orange County Regionals, being one of the best finishes the program has had in its history.

Photo by @triberobotics

For this year’s competition, the theme was “Charged Up”, which required each team to design and construct a robot that will pick up, transfer and place a small traffic cone on a pedestal as well as a foam square. What is also very important is that each team had an alliance, which made two bigger teams. These alliances brought energy to their so-called “community” by retrieving these pieces and scoring them into their grids.

Each individual match always began with a 15-second autonomous time period that gave the team several opportunities to earn points. These points were earned by completing tasks such as leaving their community, retrieving and scoring game pieces onto the grid as well as docking on or engaging with their charge station.  However, in the final two minutes and 15 seconds of the match, the drivers of the robots took control and scored points by continuing to retrieve and score their game pieces onto the grid and docking on or engaging with their charge station. After the match ends, the alliance with the highest score wins. 

Tribe Robotics was given a six-week timeframe to design and build a robot that would complete these tasks, which sounds easy, but is more challenging than most can imagine. Due to having a complex robot, everybody is dependent on everybody, which brings a lot of pressure to the team as a whole. On the Tribe Robotics team, there are separate teams that are responsible for specific aspects of the robot, such as the framework, the chassis, scouting and driving. These are just some of the few miniature teams that make up the Bosco Robotics team as a whole. In order for progress to be made, each smaller team must produce their products and work together in order to create a working piece of machinery. 

Senior Loreto Albaran, who has been a part of Tribe Robotics his entire four years at Bosco, believes that the team took new leaps and reached new heights. Loreto also believed that the bond the robotics team developed for the past couple of months gave them a huge advantage compared to the other teams that competed. 

As a team captain, Loreto observed all the miniature teams, made sure that everyone showed up to practice, and most importantly, ensured no one was running behind schedule. In the competition, however, Loreto was part of the drive team, which entailed him having complete control over the robot. While this may be Loreto’s last year participating in Tribe Robotics, he strongly believes that the team will only continue to soar from here. 

“I want the team to continue to ride the upward trend our team has been building, and I know leaving Tribe Robotics that the team is in good hands,” said Loreto. 

Senior Marco Castro, who has also been a part of the robotics team for four years, agrees with Loreto that the team is only progressing from here. However, he noticed from the offseason as well as on the day of the competition that the team faced a great deal of pressure they simply were not ready to handle.

“At the competition, I would say there was a lot of pressure, especially on the drive team. I really feel like the only thing that could beat us was us,” said Marco Castro.  

Marco also believes that because of the promotion Bosco is giving to the team, more and more people are becoming interested in being a part of the Robotics team. Marco added that this is the first year that St. Joseph’s High School girls who were interested in robotics had the opportunity to join the team, which to Marco is truly extraordinary for the program but also for the bond that each person shares on the team.

Marco plans on continuing his robotics career at the California State University, Long Beach, where he will major in electrical engineering. Much like Marco, Loreto will also continue his robotic career at Kettering University with a major in mechanical engineering.

Life of a Brave: Bosco Alumnus, Mr. Derrick Fernando, Named Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs

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by Christian Angel, Managing Editor

Mr. Derrick Fernando, alumnus of the Class of 2001, has served in a variety of roles at St. John Bosco High School, including as a teacher, coach, Dean of Students and Assessment Coordinator. He now plans to step into a new leadership role in the 2023-2024 school year. 

Photo by Megan Nash, Director of Digital Marketing & Social Media

St. John Bosco High School announced that Mr. Derrick Fernando, who currently serves as an upperclassmen English teacher and Assessment Coordinator, will be the new Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs in charge of academics needs and administration. In addition to his four years as a student, Mr. Fernando has served in the Bosco community for the last eleven years in various capacities. 

Mr. Fernando grew up in an active household in Downey. In the fall of 1996, Mr. Fernando stepped onto the campus of St. John Bosco and was involved throughout his four years in the basketball and volleyball programs. He was even involved in organizing a “Filipino Night” showcasing Filipino culture. 

He then attended Loyola Marymount University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing. In 2008, he received his Master of Arts in English from Loyola Marymount University and has spent the past 17 years as an educator at both the high school and collegiate levels.

Coming home to St. John Bosco in the Fall of 2012, Mr. Fernando has worked in the English Department, teaching World Literature, American Literature, British Literature and AP English Language and Composition at different points in his tenure. Mr. Fernando took a short break from the classroom when he was a Dean of Students from 2016-2018. 

On the sports side, he worked as an Assistant Freshmen and Assistant Varsity Coach for the basketball program and later as Head Junior Varsity and Assistant Varsity Coach for the volleyball program. 

In stepping into this new role, Mr. Fernando is focusing on the mission of continuing to develop a rigorous academic program at Bosco that brings continuity and cohesiveness in order to support teachers and students at all grade levels.

“My new role is to ensure I can provide any kind of support or development that professionals need, so our teachers are asking a lot for the kinds of support and opportunities to learn and grow that a growing and ever-evolving academic landscape would allow for,” said Mr. Fernando.

Mr. Fernando credits his time working in many leadership positions across his eleven years at Bosco having helped him be ready for this role, as he plans to lead the school with a new perspective to help many students with different backgrounds, especially at-risk students.

“In this new role, the same idea needs to apply from an academic perspective,” said Mr. Fernando. “By being able to work with students and to work with teachers to recognize that there’s something underlying that might cause an at-risk student to slip in their performance in class is another big part of that role.”

Mr. Fernando may be known for his classes being rigorous at a college level, but he has a softer side, too. He is a family man, a devoted husband of 13 years and a father to three beautiful children. With the inspiration of his family, he puts his heart and soul into St. John Bosco, recognizing the gifts that have been bestowed upon him and how he can use those gifts to benefit the futures of Braves for years to come.

A+E: Bosco Theatre Company Closes Season With Five Sellout Performances Of Fiddler On The Roof

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by Brett Baligad, Senior Editor

Over the past two weekends, the St. John Bosco Theatre Company hosted their final production of the year, Fiddler on the Roof. With five out of the seven performances selling out, this production is the highest grossing show in Bosco history, while also being one of the most acclaimed shows ever produced by the company.

Photo by Gabby Dela Vega

Directed by Mr. Martin Lang, Fiddler on the Roof is a Broadway classic following an early twentieth century Jewish community in the town of Anatevka, Ukraine. The heartfelt musical focuses on characters created by Yiddish author and playwright Sholem Aleichem, specifically Tevye, a poor dairyman played by senior Connor Sheehan, and his wife Golde, played by senior Eva Sadler, who are trying to navigate raising their five daughters while upholding Jewish traditions in an increasingly antagonistic world.

Debuted in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof stood as one of the longest running Broadway musicals in history with over 3,000 performances in the sixties. Along with its historic initial run, the original Broadway production was nominated for ten Tony Awards, with its revivals receiving several more Tony nominations. 

Performing such an iconic musical is not common for the Bosco Theatre Company. However, the cast was eager to take on the project with great success.

“This is the first big show we have done since the pandemic, and it was time to produce something on a large scale again,” said Mr. Lang. “While I have directed Fiddler on the Roof in the professional world, I have not directed it for high school. It is a difficult undertaking, but I felt we had the right people to do it.”

A large reason for this production was the cultural relevance of Fiddler on the Roof. The play takes place in Ukraine and demonstrates similar elements to the current political turmoil presented in Russia’s invasion of the country, as the Jewish community in Anatevka must coexist with the rising Russian Revolution. Additionally, the production solemnly shows the persecution of Jewish culture in heartbreaking contrast to the warm, bright community of Anatevka. To put elements like these on display meant a lot to Mr. Lang and the cast as a whole.

“Anything that is art concerns the human spirit. Theatre and this story offer a glimpse into a group of people who were persecuted and singled out in a specific time in the history of the world and in a specific place, Ukraine,” said Mr. Lang. “It is my great hope that high school students, who are the future citizens of the world, see this story and that it might speak to them in a way that encourages them to speak and act out against any kind of hatred, bias or persecution.”

Even with a political message, Fiddler on the Roof is no short of a fun sing along musical. A large component of the musical is the comic acknowledgement of the extreme traditions of the people of Anatevka. Along with this, the play joyfully demonstrates Jewish culture and practices through its classic musical numbers. Lastly, Fiddler on the Roof displays the strong family values and devotion to God within the Jewish faith.

Bosco’s rendition of Fiddler on the Roof is chalk full of actors with experience, as nine seniors made appearances throughout the play. This is evident through the many familiar faces, such as seniors Kate Sheehan, Alex Palmer and Jack Scalas all playing memorable love interests through the course of the musical.

“With such a large cast we knew it would take all of us to make this production a success. Mr. Lang can’t do it alone and a lot of the responsibilities fell upon the seniors. I felt they held us to a high standard and raised the bar for our overall performance,” said junior Grant Hidalgo-Villanueva.

Overall, the two weekends proved to be a large success. With five sellout nights for Fiddler on The Roof, it will be regarded as one of Bosco’s most noteworthy productions, rivaling other classics like Ragtime, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd. 

Life of a Brave: 21 Questions with New English Teacher, Mr. Ramon Casas

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by Christian Angel, Managing Editor

St. John Bosco High School welcomes back alumnus and new English Teacher, Mr. Ramon Casas, Jr.

Photo by Robert Visty III, Photo Editor

Q. Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

A. I was born in Bellflower, CA and grew up in Downey, Lakewood and Bellflower.

Q. Where did you go to college and what did you study?

A. I have a B.S. in Policy, Management, and Planning from the University of Southern California. Currently, I’m pursuing a M.A. in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount University.

Q. What was your dream job growing up as a kid?

A. Teacher, Deacon of the Catholic Church, Architect or Real Estate Developer, Doctor, Professional Athlete, Musician or even the President of the United States of America.

Q. What made you want to become a teacher?

A. As an elementary school student, I found careers in education incredibly fascinating. My parents, sisters, and Grandma Medina inspired me to become a teacher. In addition, my dad was a Catholic school teacher and my sisters are currently Catholic school teachers.

Q. What is your favorite part of being a teacher?

A. Teaching is my career and ministry. As a teacher, God has allowed me to educate and help his children. I’m grateful for this rewarding opportunity. Truthfully, I enjoy everything about teaching.

Q. What made you choose to come to St. John Bosco and what excites you the most
about it?

A. I’m an alumnus of St. John Bosco High School and many of my best experiences derive from this great institution. My parents worked diligently to send me here and my sisters to St. Joseph’s High School. I truly understand and appreciate the immense efforts that they exhibited for us. Therefore, I want to provide the same Salesian education to the current and future students. Alongside the faculty and staff of SJB, I know that I’m making a positive impact on the lives of these boys.

Q. How has Bosco changed since you last were a student and now that you are a teacher?

A. I find it comforting that the great values that were exhibited during my time at St. John Bosco High School still exist today. There are more programs and advancements in all facets of the school. It’s great to see the positive growth and development.

Q. What do you love about teaching English and do you have any favorite authors?

A. English is my first language, and I enjoy it immensely. I’m able to articulate myself well and incorporate the elements of the language proficiently. English has been my strength and passion. My favorite authors are St. Paul, King David, the four writers of the Gospels, Ernest Hemmingway, Plato, Emmanuel Kant, Albert Camus, Edgar Allan Poe, John Steinbeck, Sandra Cisneros, Francisco Jimenez, William Shakespeare and many more.

Q. Do you have any pets?

A. We have a dog named Sammy. He’s a cute little white dog with a little black nose.

Q. What are your favorite hobbies?

A. I love to play at the park with my daughter, read and write, play and watch sports, and playing and listening to music.

Q. What do you do in your free time?

A. I spend quality time with my daughter, Olivia, and my family. During my free time, I like to take my daughter to the park and beach so that she may interact with other people.

Q. What is your favorite food?

A. Grilled steak (carne asada), Mexican or white rice, beans and a quesadilla.

Q. What is your favorite fast food and what is your typical order?

A. Wing Stop is my favorite fast food restaurant. I typically order the 10 wings combo with original hot and mango habanero sauces. French fries are served on the side along with a Coca-Cola on light ice.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?

A. Mastro’s Ocean Club in Malibu

Q. What is your favorite movie or TV show?

A. For Greater Glory.

Q. Did you play any sports during your time at Bosco, and if so, what did you play?

A. I played sports on campus, such as Varsity Wrestling, Varsity Football, Freshman and JV Soccer and Freshman Track and Field.

Q. Do you have a favorite athlete?

A. Julio Cesar Chavez, the boxer, is my favorite athlete. He holds the record for the most world title victories with 31. I find it particularly intriguing when a person is extremely dedicated to their career or craft. Great results are destined to transpire from their efforts.

Q. What type of music do you enjoy?

A. Christian and Gospel music, Modern and Classic Rock, Mariachi, Salsa, Cumbia, Soul, R&B, Country and some Hip Hop

Q. What came first, the chicken or the egg?

A. The chicken because I think God allowed the chicken to join the other animals immediatly upon their creation.

Q. What is one place you would like to travel around the world?

A. I would like to meet Pope Francis in the Vatican, Italy.

Q. What are you most looking forward to in your time at Bosco?

A. Along with our St. John Bosco community, I’m excited to share in our Catholic faith, academic persuits, athletics and life experiences.

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