by Brett Baligad, Senior Editor

This past Sunday, Braves and their maternal figures celebrated Bosco’s annual Mother and Son Breakfast.

As the holidays are in full swing, members of the Bosco community are not shy about welcoming the Christmas cheer. To kick off the month, the Parent Association hosted their annual Mother and Son Breakfast. The event took place at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, as it invited all Bosco students to attend a morning mass, enjoy breakfast and hear from a guest speaker. Students were accompanied by mothers, aunts and grandmothers who have impacted their lives the most. Faculty were in attendance, too, as Principal Dr. Kris Anderson and President Dr. Brian Wickstrom were in attendance with their families.

Mass began at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Father Ted led mass while being accompanied by a choir and band consisting of Bosco students. Fr. Ted would dedicate his Homily to the mothers in attendance, as he recollected a story about a man who donated holiday goods to a Canadian family years ago.

“Fr. Ted had a very moving Homily. It resonated deeply with me since the story took place in Alberta, Canada and my in-laws are from there,” said Mrs. Janine Mays, mother of senior Isaac Mays. “It is brutally cold in the winter time, and I can only imagine how that single mother must have felt when the man showed up with food and toys. That was a miracle on its own, and when the child asked, ‘Is that Jesus?’ That gave me chills. ‘Yes, my child, he is our Jesus.’ Jesus lives in all of us all time, not just at Christmas.”

The Homily came with perfect timing, catering to all of the mothers that sacrifice for their children along with a sense of hope during Christmas time.

Following the Mass, a catered breakfast was open to guests. While breakfast was being served, there were raffles, silent auctions and vendors. Raffles included gift baskets from notable sports teams on campus including Football, Baseball, Basketball and Esports.

“I really enjoyed the raffles. There were plenty of options to choose from,” said senior Tyler Baligad. “I actually won a basket full of baseball gear. I am excited to wear them to school.”

The silent auction was also a big hit. The most notable prizes were tickets to a Clippers game against the Bucks and a pair of signed gloves from Oscar De La Hoya. Respectively, both winners belonged to seniors Anthony Rodriguez and Mauro Meraz.

The vendors lined the back of the event center and sold a wide variety of goods that served as perfect Christmas presents for the holiday season. This included bracelets, necklaces and St. John Bosco novelties. 

The event concluded with guest speaker and alumni, Dr. Fidencio Saldaña, Class of ‘91. After Dr. Saldaña graduated from St. John Bosco, he would go on to study at Stanford University. He is currently a Dean of Students at Harvard Medical School. 

“I really enjoyed his keynote speech. He emphasized passion, family and building an image for yourself,” said Ryan Gutierrez ‘23. “I had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Saldaña, and he said he was willing to help me build connections with his colleagues in the east coast.”

Overall, there was plenty to see and do at the Mother and Son Breakfast. Whether it was sharing mass with their mothers, grandmothers and aunts, having breakfast or shopping for Christmas presents, the Mother and Son Breakfast once again showed the importance of the Brave women in students’ lives.

by Marco Castro

The Brothers of Bosco strive to make an impact on the communities of Baja California, Mexico. With the help of Co-Presidents Tyler Baligad and Christopher Facio, the club hopes to continue to unite the Brave community through service.

As St. John Bosco Braves, students are called to be men of service, and one new club has certainly answered that call. The Brothers of Bosco, founded by seniors Brett and Tyler Baligad, is a new service club on campus that donates money and supplies to the communities of Ensenada, Mexico. 

“We started the club earlier this year because my brother Brett and I saw an opportunity to give back to our grandparents’ church,” said Tyler. “During Covid-19, our grandparents retired in Ensenada, Mexico. Working with their pastor, Fr. Rodolfo, we saw an opportunity to do good.”

After recognizing the chance to help, Brett and Tyler reached out to their friends in the Bosco community for assistance in providing to these people. One person who answered the call to help is the club’s other Co-President, senior Christopher Facio.

“When Brett and Tyler brought up the idea, I was really excited and honored that they wanted me to be part of the moment,” said Christopher.

After assembling a group of students to lead the club, they needed a teacher moderator to officially become a club on campus. Luckily for them, science teacher Mr. Ruben Solorza, Class of ’13, was more than willing to help.

“After I heard how it got started and saw their personal connection with it, I was on board to help them get it going,” Mr. Solorza said.

While the Brothers of Bosco is a brand new club, they have already raised over $1,000 worth of supplies for the community of Ensenada, and are currently hosting a drive collecting warm clothes for the elderly.

“We raised $500 in our first project, $300 at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, and $300 at the Culture Fair. One hundred percent of our donations have gone back into buying donatable goods for the communities of Ensenada,” said Tyler.

After completing each drive, a few members of the club drive down to Iglesia María Auxiliadora in Ensenada. From there, the clothes and other goods get distributed by the church to the people in the community. 

This club has hit the ground running and hopes to continue that with its current warm goods drive. If you would like to donate, they will be collecting beanies, scarves, gloves, blankets and other warm clothing until December 15th in room 318.

The Brothers of Bosco are always looking for new members and will welcome anyone who wishes to join. They meet every Thursday in Mr. Solorza’s classroom, room 318.

by Noah Dawson

Prior to the Thanksgiving break, the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, also known as the Rector Major, came to our campus to share with us his story and offer blessings to St. John Bosco’s students and staff.

Father Fernandez was born on August 21st 1960 in Luanco-Gozon, Asturias, Spain and was ordained a priest on July 4th, 1987 in Leon, France. He went on to become the Provincial Superior of South Argentina in 2009, meaning he would oversee the religious operation for the Salesians in Argentina from Buenos Aires. He then went on to climb the ranks of the Church when he was appointed Superior of the new Province of Mediterranean Spain, dedicated to “Mary Help of Christians.”

He continued and took upon himself a new role on March 25th, 2014, when he was elected as the new Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation and the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco. The Rector Major position is one of the highest honors one can receive in the Salesian order, and the position holds much responsibility and power.

“The Rector Major is the succession of Don Bosco himself and has the expectation to not only continue but build upon Don Bosco’s mission,” said St. John Bosco’s Spiritual Director, Father Ted Montemayor.

In the much anticipated visit, the Rector Major held a community prayer and a speech to the staff and students in the Bosco Thunderdome. Through his speech, he spoke on the importance of being a contributing member of the community we all inhabit and following in the footsteps and example of Don Bosco in every aspect of our lives.

While this has had a deep impact on everyone from students to teachers, our Dean of Attendance, Mrs. Margie Woods, felt particularly blessed, as this was her first experience with a Rector Major.

“Well, I followed him, of course, from the quad to the parking lot. Honestly, just around everywhere. He’s such a pleasant person to be around,” said Mrs. Woods.

After the Rector Major’s assembly, the school celebrated the Culture Fair, and Fr. Artime even climbed up to the Bosco Victory Bell and rang it for all our students to see. Even when the people around him told him to continue on because had a plane to catch, he insisted on staying to talk to the students and staff. Showing the care and attention that he has for Bosco’s mission.

He actively put the education and experiences of the youth in front of all other needs, mirroring Don Bosco, the very saint which the Rector Major succeeds. Father Ángel Fernández Artime’s visit has deeply impacted the school community and rekindled Salesian love throughout the school.

by Isaac Mays, Sport Editor

St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s High School seniors brought back an old tradition of swapping campuses and enjoying a “day in the life” of fellow Braves and Jesters.

Brave and Jester seniors were given the opportunity to enroll in a raffle that gave them both a chance, if chosen, to trade places with one another to experience what life is like in each other’s shoes.

Bosco made sure to accommodate the St. Joseph’s Jesters as much as possible, as faculty members designed specific lesson plans for their visitors. 

“The faculty has been really nice. They’ve helped me out with any questions I’ve had,” said St. Joseph’s senior Cynthia Ortiz.

Braves and Jesters alike were contributing in classes and were given a fun chance to bond, making many envy the co-ed schooling system.

Bosco’s Senior Board provided lunch inside the MPR with pizza for all the seniors to share together. Seniors were able to converse with their peers without being separated by their gendered schools. Throughout the entire experience, many new friendships were made, as people interacted that typically never would.

The level of friendliness that was shown throughout the school impressed the Jester visitors. Any negative dispositions held against the Bosco Braves were quickly disproved, as new perspectives were gained.

Many Jesters spoke of being apprehensive regarding their journey to Bosco, although all were happy they did. Most credited the Braves for helping them with tasks that would be difficult without prior knowledge of the school. Jesters were specifically grateful that the Braves helped guide them throughout campus and walk them to their classes. 

Jesters were even given the opportunity to attend classes that normally would not be offered to them, such as courses within the Academic Pathways.

“Definitely my favorite class was [Biomed Pathway] Medical Genetics. That’s the one that I found the most interesting and most applicable to my major,” said senior Xochitl Moreno. 

This event helped reinforce a bond that is frequently overlooked. The Jesters and Braves need this connection to help hold the legacy of being brother and sister schools. The positive interactions between the two schools on Monday helped promote perspective and happy relationships. Hopefully, the administration at both schools will decide to continue this tradition past the Class of 2023 for all future seniors to experience.

by Brett Baligad, Senior Editor

Filling the Mary Help of Christians Quad with lights and colors, Dia de los Muertos brought the solemnity and unity of the Brave community, as they mourned and celebrated the lives of their passed loved ones. The successful event was filled with clubs and organizations from across campus honoring family, friends and fallen Braves.

Dia de los Muertos is a special celebration within the Catholic faith, specifically in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. With a large influence of Hispanic culture within the Bosco community, Dia de los Muertos celebrations have always been a significant part of the Bosco community. Preparations for this annual event have been going on for months, as altars, vendors, and artists became the stars of the evening. 

Last Wednesday, students could find clubs setting up for the evening as early as the start of school that morning. Altars lined the center of the quad honoring different loved ones, such as former St. John Bosco staff, grandparents, family members, pets and veterans. These altars were hosted by on-campus organizations, such as the Religion Department, World Language Department, Parents Association, ASB, Golf, Football and many more.

Accompanied by the altars were marigolds and ofrendas. Marigolds are orange flowers that use their scent to attract the souls of the dead toward the ofrendas. The ofrendas are offerings that are typically the deceased loved ones favorite foods or items.

“The altars were beautifully decorated, and it was nice to see previous members of our campus represented, such as the former director of security and my friend, Ish,” said Mr. Solorza, Class of ‘13. “One of my personal favorites was the pet altar.”

As the night began, Fr. Ted Montemayor brought the Brave and Jester community together in prayer, as he blessed all of the altars with incense and Holy Water and remembered the loved ones that stood upon them.

“I really enjoyed the blessing. It was an impactful integration of our faith and our schools rich Mexican heritage,” said senior Ryan Gutierrez. “The Dia de los Muertos blessing was really powerful and well done by Fr. Ted.” 

Following the blessing, vendors sold all sorts of foods and desserts for people to purchase. Food vendors were sponsored by organizations such as the Compa Club, Black Student Union, Spanish Honors Society, Brothers of Bosco and more. The event had a wide selection of goods to choose from with the most notable items being tacos, nachos, tamales, champurrados and cookies.

“I really enjoyed the food. My favorites were the nachos and tacos. Even though I’m not usually a fan, the Jamaica drink was tasty as well,” said senior Sebastian Lim.

To keep the entertainment going, live performances from the St. Joseph Folklorico Club and a mariachi band filled Bosco’s campus with excitement and color for the rest of the evening. With the amazing help of the Dia de los Muertos Committee, the coordinators of the event, the night was spearheaded by Ms. Edna Ramirez, Mr. Daniel Benitez and Ms. Patricia Martinez, and their efforts made the evening a huge success.

The Dia de los Muertos Committee invites all of those who missed out to stop by next year, as there will be more goods and entertainment to enjoy. Through the love and tradition of the St. John Bosco community, Dia de los Muertos will always be a grand gesture to the lives and legacies of those who have impacted us and the Bosco community at large.

by Isaac Mays, Sports Editor

Following a blowout victory during Friday night’s Homecoming Game against Orange Lutheran High School, the Homecoming Dance took place on Sunday afternoon, as the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County hosted St. John Bosco and St. Joseph’s to provide a unique and exciting Homecoming experience. 

Bosco’s administration chose this venue because it allowed exhibits to be open and accessible, setting a Jurrassic age tone for the dance. Complete fossil structures and life sized dinosaurs were large centerpieces for the evening, and right as the doors opened, they were made clearly visible. 

Throughout the dance floor many prehistoric animal enclosures depicted and showcased many animals in their natural environment. The area known as “Mammal Hall” helped the students feel surrounded by the prehistoric setting. The venue played a major part in the awe-inspiring evening, with many feeling as if they traveled back in time.

“The theme was ‘Back to the Ages,’ so being in the Natural History Museum it kind of set the theme for itself,” said freshmen Associated Student Body (ASB) member and commissioner Kai Maldonado.

The Homecoming Dance Planning Committee more than did their part, providing food and refreshments for the evening. Ample drinks, such as punch, lemonade and refreshing water, were available throughout the entire night, while cheese displayed elegantly on charcuterie boards was readily available. 

“The Homecoming Planning Committee really went above and beyond this evening,” said senior and ASB Co-President Ryan Gutierrez. “I helped choose this venue, and it really stood out to me. I hope it made a really positive impact and a memorable experience on all the guests in attendance.”

Students felt that the dance also provided an experience that they could be proud of. Many Bosco Braves and St. Joseph’s Jesters alike brought dates from other schools. It allowed many new faces to have a great impression of our community.

“I thought the whole night was really cool,” said senior Pierce Watt. “I brought a date from a large public school in my area, and she told me how great the evening was.”

The music was able to accomplish the difficult task of living up the teenagers’ expectations. The DJ for the evening clearly did their best to appeal to the crowd, as the students felt they exceeded their hopes for the evening. The music seemed to be in touch with the listening habits of everyone in the audience.

Students look forward to the next formal dance of the year: Winter Formal hosted by St. Joseph’s. Seniors and their dates will also be able to attend Prom later in April of this year.