The Alverno High School Jaguars made history in the 2008-09 soccer season by winning the Sierra Madre school's first California Interscholastic Federation soccer title, and only the third CIF title in its history. (The school previously earned softball crowns in 1981 and 2004.)

In finishing with a 19-1-2 record, Alverno captured its ninth Horizon League championship and the first Division VII CIF championship.

"It starts with a dedication and commitment of many people," said Coach Ken Berry. "The athletes have devoted their time after school to the many hours of practice and conditioning required to be a championship team. The team displayed an intense work ethic throughout the season working hard on conditioning days, giving that extra effort during drills and making the effort to become this cohesive championship team."

Captains Ameenah Issa and Marina Lesse worked hard organizing the team during practices and on the field, noted Berry. "The coaching staff is very proud of how hard this team has worked to become a powerful group of determined ladies who would not give up," he said. "They listened well to our directions, carried them out on the field, played hard and adapted to all situations."

The team effort included a high-scoring offense (134 goals) and a stellar defense featuring freshman goalkeeper Chellee Parker who played every minute of all 23 games and only allowed 10 goals. The championship squad also included the defensive line of Lauren Sanchez, Gaby Vasquez, Karineh Minissian, Regina Cabrera, Mackenzie Winslow and Becca Iraheta; midfielders Maha Abdallah, Ameenah Issa, Marina Lesse, Briana Alvarado, Cassie Saavedra and Courtney Conte; and forwards Jessica Capra, Celina Minissian, Corrie Antillon and Hana Lemseffer.

Berry also expressed appreciation to his coaching staff - Semeen Issa, Steve Lesse and Alfred Alvarado - and paid tribute to the late Frankie Russo, Alverno's long-time athletic director who coached the school's softball championship teams, and to whose memory the soccer team dedicated its last games and the championship.

"I know he is looking down at this incredible achievement and is smiling," said Berry.

Salesian captures boys' soccer crown
Bishop Mora Salesian High School's boys' soccer team earned the CIF Division V soccer title March 7 with a 2-1 overtime victory over Baldwin Park High School.

Champions of the Santa Fe League, the Mustangs defeated New Roads, Pomona, Monrovia and Righetti (Santa Maria) in matches leading up to the final. Coach Mark Johnson's team then advanced to the Southern California Division III Regional Tournament, and defeated Avalon and Parlier High Schools before losing to Mater Dei, 2-1, to end the 2008-09 season with record of 22-2-3.

Ramona Convent science team wins honors at robotics competition
On March 5-7, a team of 16 Ramona Convent Secondary School students placed 11th out of 42 teams participating in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition for the Southern California region.

This is the seventh year the young women have participated. Ramona was the only all-girls team competing in this year's program.

This year's theme was "Lunacy," marking the anniversary of the Lunacy Robot on the moon. Beginning in January, each team was given six weeks to build a robot with the necessary capabilities to perform the tasks required in the competition using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules.

The Ramona students designed, measured, cut, sanded metal, hammered, drilled and assembled until they had built a functioning robot. The competition was playing field simulated anti-gravity traction on the moon, with the girls calibrating and reprogramming the robot during five-minute prep periods between matches.

On March 27, the school hosted a dinner to honor the young scientists and their team moderator, Science Department Chair, Aulikki Flagan, and to give recognition to the science mentors from Caltech, Galvanix and Northrup-Grumman who generously gave their time and expertise.

St. Christopher Art class puts modern twist on da Vinci
Using the work of artists George Segal and Mark Jenkins as references, eighth grade students at St. Christopher School in West Covina made life-size sculptures of themselves using clear packing tape as a casting material.

The students modeled themselves after Jesus and the twelve apostles from Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." This art project helped students to keep Jesus' life and teachings present during a time of Lenten reflection.

The sculpture also stressed the element of form, using the technique of additive sculpture, and what the students have learned about the famed Reniassance artist, said art teacher Janis Cassidy.

La Salle: Kind cuts to raise money for cancer patients
This year, Catholic Schools Week was special because La Salle teamed with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to raise over $1,000 towards cancer research programs.

Over the years, cancer has unfortunately touched the lives of most members of the La Salle community with the La Salle faculty having had colleagues, students, friends and family members affected by various types of cancers. The entire community was encouraged to donate to the cause by placing what they could in the orange "Pennies for Patients" boxes.

Many students and two faculty members, Rand Laird and Teresa Baldonado, publicly cut their hair in solidarity with cancer patients.