tvc.dsj.org | March 19, 2019
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Panda Day Inspired by God’s Creations
In preparation of receiving the
Sacraments of Reconciliation and First
Eucharist, second grade students from
Saint John Vianney School made a
connection to caring for all of God’s
creation through a unit exploration of
studying the life cycle of pandas, as
well as exploring their habitat. Second
graders researched important facts
about Pandas, created posters to make
an awareness of the endangerment
of Pandas, and brainstormed how to
save and repopulate these amazing
creatures.
Second Grade teacher, Mrs. Ward, with
Instructional Aide, Ms. Fernandes, and the
2nd Grade student “Pandas.”
Monarch Madness:
One Night, Four Classes, One Community
By Eshan Gupta ’19 and
Audrey VanValkenburg ’19
Monarch Madness, an electrifying
class rally competition held in the City
National Civic in downtown San Jose
every year, has become a trademark
of Archbishop Mitty High School.
This event is about school pride, com-
petition, and unity. After four years
on Student Government, this event
has been central to our high school
experience. What might be described
as a battle of the classes is actually an
opportunity for students across cam-
pus to celebrate the school spirit that
unites us as Monarchs.
The Monarch Madness creative
process begins nearly thr ee months
before the event when elected student
government offi
cers decide on over-
arching class themes. Notable past
senior class themes have included
“Hercules,” “Dark Knight Rises,”
“Toy Story,” and “The Twilight Zone.”
Following a raffle-style drawing in
January, where 50 members from each
class are selected to a Monarch Mad-
ness team, the process truly begins.
For six weeks leading up to the event,
the teams practice before school and
on the weekends to learn a six-minute
dance, practice their ROAR — a per-
cussion composition created entirely
with household items, such as spoons,
wooden sticks, and pots — and learn
signature Monarch Madness games,
such as tug of war, wheelbarrow races,
and a Hula-Hoop relay.
While the teams are hard at work
preparing for various competitions,
the preparation of artwork for the
event is carried out simultaneously.
Each class prepares a hand-painted
mural that is an 8-foot-by-8-foot
depiction of their class theme. Addi-
tionally, an enormous banner is also
in the works, with classes creating
the 85-foot-long piece of art. Every
little step along the way of this big
event holds its own opportunities
and memories. Although it is easy to
get focused on the details, it is up to
each and every one of us to embrace
the madness, both in its preparatory
steps and on the very night the magic
unfolds.
To love and embrace the process is
the key to loving Monarch Madness.
In Student Government, we are always
told to enjoy the process, and now hav-
ing been on Student Government for
four years, we can see why. Although
the entire process is fi lled with count-
less memories, one memory truly
stands out: the singing of our liturgi-
cal theme song at the end of the night.
As we sing our theme song, the entire
civic auditorium with nearly 3,000
people stands as one. The colors of
the diff erent classes begin to mix and
everyone lives in the present moment.
It is this moment that makes Monarch
Madness all worth it. We are one com-
munity united in school pride, coming
together to display school spirit, and
above all, unity.
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