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With over 700 Dragons playing across 48 sports teams each year, excitement for the new O’Dowd Center continues to mount. Set to open this fall, the Center will boast an NBA regulation size court, new team meeting rooms, and a state-of-the-art athletic performance center for student-athletes to train, meet, and compete. With this Center serving as the new home for athletics at O’Dowd, our programs are set to strengthen and thrive. Johnnie Bryant ’03, Associate Head Coach for the New York Knicks, tours the O’Dowd Center with President J.D. Childs and Head Basketball Coach Lou Richie ’89. “Our athletic trainers, coaches, and players have done a phenomenal job in our current space, even though we’ve outgrown it,” says Director of Athletics, Carlos Reed. Right now, the volleyball and basketball programs manage ten teams and share just two court spaces for all their training, tryouts, team meetings, practices, and games. “Despite that, our teams have excelled,” Carlos states. The basketball program has won 5 CIF State Championships and 17 NorCal Championships. Girls volleyball has dominated with eight NorCal championships. Adding the O’Dowd Center to the current facilities will be a total game-changer. “We will have championship facilities to match our championship teams,” enthuses Reed. “We’ll finally be able to host championship games at home! We’re really looking forward to having our supportive fans in the house, and hearing the resounding ringing cheer of Dragon Pride.” Supporting Students Beyond the Field of Play Each year, more than 20 O’Dowd graduates go on to play college sports. Our counseling staff work in strong partnership with the athletics department, supporting student-athletes with their academic aspirations, and assisting with the college recruiting process. Many alumni have gone on to play professional sports in the United States and abroad, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NWSL., and even competing in the Olympics. And the experience of O’Dowd athletics is so positive for many students that they return as alumni to support the programs. “We are fortunate to have alumni return in various roles to inspire our current students,” shares Hillary Kigar, Associate Director of Athletics. “Some will return to coach our teams and more recently, alumni will be guest speakers as part of our Advanced Athletics program.” Coach Lauren Nadler with soccer players Sara Redfield (left) and Katie Senn (right) at their National Letter of Intent Signing Ceremony. Coaching is foundational to O’Dowd’s athletic excellence. Acting as powerful mentors and guides, coaches play a significant formative role in student lives – setting strong expectations for passion, hard work, and discipline. Dragon coaches emphasize winning graciously and losing with humility, but above all – competing ferociously. “Whether it is in the classroom or on the field, our student-athletes strive for excellence every day,” asserts Girls Head Soccer Coach Lauren Nadler. “Our soccer players are always looking for ways to learn and grow, and help their teammates do the same. The pillars of our program are hard work, pride, and teamwork. Each of these values is evident not only in how they solve problems together, but also in knowing that the strength of our team is in each other.”
In collaboration with coaches, O’Dowd’s strength and conditioning program utilizes digital technology to offer mobility training drills, posture analysis, movement patterns, strength training, and speed and power progressions, differentiated by gender, sport, and body type, for all student-athletes. “Adding the performance lab is going to be super impactful because we will double the number of athletes that we can train,” Reed explains. “This expansion has been something our program has needed for years. It’s going to allow us to accommodate all our coaches, year-round.” In addition, the new performance lab features enhanced equipment and sports medicine resources, accommodating more than 3,000 annual visits from students at every stage of fitness. “This is an incredible opportunity for O’Dowd,” exudes Head Athletic Trainer Joanne Kinyon. “With the new space and training facility we will elevate all of our athletic programs to the next level. ” A Win for Students When the O’Dowd Center opens this fall, it will enhance our student athletic experience in countless ways. As a community, we have chosen to invest in honoring our Dragon legacy – and we look forward, with heartfelt commitment, to the excellence, innovation and success that will undoubtedly rise up with future generations.

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11/15/18

Dear O’Dowd Families, After thoughtful consideration from our administrative team we’ve decided to close the school for the full day tomorrow due to AQI levels hovering near 200 and above in areas surrounding the school. Campus closes at 3:30 (students will be supervised until picked up). Despite the potential inconvenience this may cause for families, we are exercising caution and best judgment in response to the current data and recommendation of health officials. Due to the nature of our campus, it is nearly impossible for us to keep all students indoors at all times, which is the recommendation. Please note the following details: All athletics activities are canceled for today and tomorrow. The musical performances are cancelled and will be rescheduled, dates to be determined. We will communicate with Kairos families in a separate communication. Lawrence Berkeley Lab has just published a useful page on precautions that may be taken at home to minimize the effects of smoke. Thank you for your flexibility as we navigate this challenging new territory and respond prudently in the best interest of our students and professional community. Finally, as you know, dozens of people have been killed, hundreds are still missing, and thousands of structures have been destroyed. During these terrible and frightening days, we reach out in consolation and support to all who have been affected by this natural disaster. We will communicate again on Sunday by 2:00 pm about school next week. In partnership, Brian Judd, Jase Turner, Colette Roche

Associate Principals

The Holocaust Study Tour will take April 4-20, 2019. This is an educational tour that motivates, challenges and engages students to rethink one of the most critical and horrific events in history. Traveling through Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland, students significantly connect to the Holocaust, by making meaningful and accurate cultural connections to the people and nations they visit. An informational meeting for interested students and parents is scheduled for Monday, October 29, beginning at 6 p.m., in Room 201. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, November 20, 2018. View the blog here http://www.hst10.blogspot.com/ » Download the information packet and signup form »

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Our Annual Food and Toy Drive is underway! Each first period classroom is asked to “adopt” one family from St. Vincent Day Home in in West Oakland. SVDH offers day-care/pre-school/kindergarten programs that serve and support working families with economic challenges. To “adopt” a family means each class (approx. 25 students) will collect/donate 2 boxes of non-perishable food items and at least 1 gift for each member of the family, parents included. O’Dowd students may have already talked with their parents about items they are collecting. Each class decides who will bring in which items. A suggested list is below, but items vary by class and family needs. We need all items to be brought to Period 1 homerooms by next Tuesday morning, Dec. 6 . Delivery to SVDH will be on Wednesday morning, Dec. 7. A huge THANK YOU to the whole O’Dowd community for all the ways you have offered support. NOTE: We ask that food NOT be perishable and it is a request of St. Vincent Day Home that no toys be violence oriented (i.e. no guns, no knives, no fighting “action figures”) Thank you! SUGGESTED FOOD LIST ( NOTE – No perishable foods) Canned Fruit Canned Veggies Canned Soups & Crackers Cereals Coffee / Tea Sugar Flour Rice Pinto beans (dry) Peanut Butter & Jelly Canned meats Tuna – canned Vegetable oil Treats: fruit snacks, cookies, cocoa POSSIBLE HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES: Toothbrushes & Toothpaste Soap & Shampoo Cleaning sponges Lotions or skin cream Band Aids, first aid POSSIBLE (GENERAL) Kid’s items (if there are no specifics from the family info) Children’s Books Fun stickers Coloring books, Paper Pens, Pencils, Erasers Chalk, Crayons, Water color markers Dolls, balls, stuffed animals Games or puzzles “The annual Food and Toy Drive kicked off yesterday, and runs through Tuesday, December 6. The drive serves families from Saint Vincent’s Day Home , a non-profit with more than a century of service to children of low-income families. Learn more “

BOD 2016 Softball team Div. III defending champions win title for 2nd year in a row. The 8-0 shut out against San Marin High Scool consisted of excellent pitching by senior, Alexis Scalzo, and fantastic hitting and fielding by all the players ending their season with a 22-4 Overall and 11-2 League record. Congratulations to the players who made the WACC Foothill All-League Softball Teams: First Team: Alexis Scalzo, Hannah Rosenfeld and Frankie Hammoude Second Team: Michael Edwards-Gonzales and Nicole Hammoude Honorable Mention: Allie Curtis and Lizzy Avery Player of the Year for All League: Frankie Hammoude We are also proud of our Seniors and Team Captains: Alexis Scalzo, Olivia Olmos, and Haley Ferrufino-Jurs. Congratulations to the entire Team for all of their accomplishments

The Bishop O’Dowd 2016 Women’s Varsity Softball team with an overall record of 20-4 and league record of 11-2 head to the NCS Semi-Finals Wednesday 6/1/16 @ 6pm at the Castro Valley Community Center against Analy High School. – Click here for the NCS/Les Schwab Tires Softball Championships Division 3 bracket »

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This year the Dragon Parents are planning a festive tree-lighting event that is not to be missed. A spectacular 25-foot tree of All are welcome to join in on this celebration. Bring friends and family! Enjoy the program, hot chocolate and holiday treats in the quad on Monday, November 27, 6 – 7 p.m . Questions? Contact  Dragon Parents Arts Chair Andrew Danish .             O’Dowd String Orchestra will be performing and accompanying caroling at the tree lighting event.

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