A 2-1 victory over Phoenix Valley Lutheran at the Coyote Soccer Classic was a great start for the Golden Eagles at this annual tournament.   It was also a good learning experience for the team according to Coach Jonathan Sang.  Read the full story at http://www.aia365.com/authors/ketch-phrases/1218 .

On December 1st, Bishop Thomas Olmsted officiated the groundbreaking for the remodel of Bourgade Catholic High School’s Hillmann Center and the construction of a 19,873 square foot multi-purpose performance center.   Hillmann Center was originally built to house the priests who served as administrators and faculty/staff at Bourgade Catholic.   In the ensuing years, the Hillmann Center has served as a retreat house for the Diocese of Phoenix as well as an Engaged Encounter Weekend location for many Catholic couples. 

In its new life, Hillmann Center will house Bourgade Catholic’s outstanding music program with classroom and practice spaces, instrument storage, an expanded Campus Ministry Office, and space for a warming kitchen on the first floor.   Department offices, meeting rooms, a large board room, and the Advancement and Admissions offices will be located on the second floor.   

The new multipurpose room will be attached to Hillmann Center on the east.  This new space will include stadium style seating for 350 guests to enjoy lectures, liturgies, band, choir, and theatre performances.   The seating will be retractable to provide open space for meetings, art shows, and community gatherings. 

The new construction brings rejuvenation to the Bourgade Catholic campus.  Staff and students eagerly await the opportunity to make new memories in the revitalized Hillmann Center.

For additional information please contact Joann Siebenman, Advancement Director, at jsiebenman@bourgade.org or 602-618-0592.

Senior Kolton Boothman was recently named a NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALIST. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT test their junior year of high school. Kolton is one of 16,000 students in the country to be named a semi-finalist. Semi-finalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. Semi-finalists will be notified by February if they are a Finalist in the 2012 National Merit Program.

In addition to being named a semi-finalist, Kolton was recognized as a National Hispanic Merit Scholar based on his PSAT score and his grade point average. Congratulations Kolton!!

BC World Languages students took the opportunity to visit  "Modern Mexican Painting from the Andres Blaisten Collection" at the Phoenix Art Museum.  Students experienced famous works from Diego Rivera and other well known Mexican artists. "Había muchas cosas a ver allí y pienso qué yo sé más sobre la arte de México después de mi visita al museo de arte." - Audrie Pirkl, Spanish 5-6 (There were many works to see and I think that I know a little more about Mexican art after my visit to the art museum.)

Bourgade Catholic Senior, Mary Calderon, is living Bourgade Catholic’s mission of “…building a global society founded on the gospel values of justice, love and peace.”  Mary is spending her summer in rural Peru volunteering with the organization, Amigos de las Americas: a non-profit, private organization that sends high school and college aged youth to Latin America to work and collaborate with the community on public health and community development projects.

Last summer, Mary volunteered in San Pedro, Paraguay, for six weeks. This summer, she and two other volunteers, are living and working in a community in the Lamay region outside of Cusco, called Sayllafaya.   

These dedicated people are working on educational activities every week at the school and high school based around community health.  In addition, they are working on a community-based project the community decided upon; a vivero, or tree nursery.

Mary is also learning about this agricultural culture; the volunteers assist with pasturing sheep and working in the chacra, or fields. 

When Mary returns we hope she will share recipes for Peruvian cooking, which is quite diverse, although she confesses that she is mostly enjoying the staples of potatoes, rice and corn.

Pictured below left to right: First grade students dancing at the Sayllafaya 50th Anniversary Festival; BC Senior Mary Calderon and 6 year old Edgar, chopping onions and tomatoes for omelets on July 4th; Mary and view of Lamay region of Peru.

Each year, journalism teachers from thoughout Arizona nominate outstanding high school students to be recognized by the Arizona Republic for performance excellence.  Each young journalist is an inspiration, meeting the demands of reporting, writing, and editing for a school publication while attending daily classes.  Susan Hidalgo, who serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Eagle's Eyrie, was recognized as one of these top journalists!! Congratulations to Susan on a job well done! 

                                                                       Arizona Republic Article

BC recent graduates, Angelica Aguilera and Tori Tiano, competed in the 1A-3A Senior All-Star Softball Doubleheader at Show Low High School on Saturday June 25th.  

Both young women represented Bourgade Catholic well during the games and in the skills contest:  Angelica, who played catcher and outfield at BC,  hit a homer in the first game; Tori, BC’s outstanding shortstop, won the base running contest; and both women were on the winning 5-person team in the throwing contest.