Heard in the Halls - November 2019

Private Scholarships for College

Many private organizations offer scholarships to students intending to go to college. CDH seniors can find private scholarship information on their Naviance accounts. Just log in, click on “colleges,” then “scholarships & money,” then “scholarship list” to find the most updated list. All of the private scholarships that we have been made aware of will appear here and students can get all the information they need to apply in one spot. You can also do a search of a national scholarship database by clicking on “national scholarship search.” Please remember to check these resources throughout the winter and spring as they are continually updated.

Be vigilant about college scholarship scams. Beware of any scholarship organization that asks you to pay a fee, promises scholarship money or touts money-back guarantees. Don’t be fooled by official-sounding names that include words such as “National,” “Federal,” or “Administration.” Never supply your credit card information to a scholarship site.

College Application Deadlines

A reminder to seniors that your CDH College Application Contract (Purple Sheet) is due to the Counseling Office no later than Monday, December 9 in order for your CDH supporting materials to be sent prior to the Christmas break. Remember that the Counseling staff will also be on break, so we must have your requests early for any January 1 deadlines. We realize this can be a stressful time for seniors, so please see your counselor if you need assistance.

College Planning for the Class of 2021 – Tuesday, December 10

In order to connect with our junior students and families earlier, we have moved our college planning programming to December this year. We will kick off our work with the Class of 2021 with an evening program for both junior students and their parents/guardians on Tuesday, December 10 in the CDH Commons. The presentation will be given twice – once from 5 to 6 pm and again from 7 to 8 pm – so come to whichever session best fits your schedule. We will be covering important information as you begin your plans for life after Cretin-Derham Hall so please make every effort to attend so we can all get off to a good start with future planning.

Campus Ministry

CDH Theater has been moving and shaking since the beginning of the year. The fall brought the production of The Hobbit. It was a fast-paced, magical, rock ‘n’ roll adventure show complete with wizards, dwarves, and dragons. It was delightful to see CDH students perform for family and friends. It was especially fun to see all the high school students interacting with all the young children who attended.

Miss Nelson Is Missing, this year's children’s show production, is quickly coming together. The children’s show gives opportunities to those CDH students who have not participated in shows before. There are wonderful 9^th graders joining us for the first time. We also have 10^th, 11^th and 12th-grade students stepping out of their comfort zones and trying something new. We are excited to have two sold-out daytime performances for local grade schools. Public performances are December 12 -15 and tickets are now available online.

CDH theater classes have gone out into the field and attended a few different local theater productions. Students had the opportunity to see Theater Latte Da’s production of the musical Chicago and well as Don’t Feed The Indians at The Southern Theater. Don’t Feed The Indians is a satirical look at the history of many different groups of indigenous people told through comedy, drama, storytelling, and song. Produced as part of the Indigenous Voices Festival, students were able to see history presented in a nonconventional way, participate in thoughtful discussion supported by the theater company, and experience a different kind of theater and art available to us in the Twin Cities. 

CDH Improv had their Tri 1 performance and brought the house down with their quick wits and humor. The show’s format was different from the other shows the group has performed before. Performers' names were pulled from a hat and they had to perform with no knowledge of what they needed to do! It created wonderful energy for a great improv show.

If Tri 1 is any indication for the rest of the school year, we are on a theater roll! It’s going to be busy with art and set building, drama and comedy, and a great creative spirit! Go Raider Theater! 

By LTC Jamie Fischer, SGM David Berrisford, and MSG Ken Peloski

Since our last article, a great deal has happened…..

Our most exciting ceremony of the year occurred on October 25 when we promoted select seniors to the highest ranks in the Brigade. This year’s process was highly competitive. Our Diamond Officers will lead the 262 strong Corps of Cadets through numerous activities and events over the rest of the school year concluding with the Twilight Parade on May 13, 2020. In addition to these basic responsibilities, each Diamond Officer will manage a special project for the long-term benefit of the Corps. The Brigade and Battalion staffs will guide the Corps through a continuous improvement program. They are planning, organizing and running the weekly leadership labs to reach their SMART goals. Some officers will plan, coordinate, and supervise the Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge for approximately 350 JROTC cadets coming from 15 other schools on February 7, 2020. 

Co-Curricular groups are busy. After a very busy football season, Color Guard presented the colors at Diamond Promotions, several Veterans Day events and will also support at many upcoming varsity sporting events to include hockey. The Rifle Team has started practicing for competitions and will endeavor to qualify for the Regional JROTC Championships this month. Our Honor Guard continues to perform duties at wakes.  On November 3, they also assisted with the CDH Gala at the University of St. Thomas. Both the Armed and Unarmed Regulation Drill Team is practicing for upcoming competitions later in the winter. Orienteering will have its first training event of the year at Tamarack Park on November 16. We hope to build on last year’s success. Flight Club will be touring Wings of the North and may even get a ride on a C130 before Christmas.

Every year, all able cadets complete the JROTC Cadet Challenge which consists of five events.  These events are:  the shuttle run, pull-ups/flexed arm hang, crunches, the v-sit stretch, and a one-mile run. The highest-scoring companies in each battalion will earn the cadet challenge streamer to hang from their guidon.

Seniors should be finishing Senior ROTC applications and Academy nominations. Juniors who are considering military service should be doing their research on which branch, what school, and which major. As always, we are available to answer questions. E-mail LTC Fischer to make an appointment to talk about options.

Follow us on Twitter @JROTCCDH