We’re not your average 5K

If you sign up for the Nun Run 5K, you will be the proud recipient of a Nun Run t-shirt, a savory pancake breakfast, great company and a goodie bag with impressive coupons; but did you know you’ll also be doing something good for the planet?

Since the sisters are very concerned with caring for the earth, all participants will get a Virtual Event Bag instead of a regular goodie bag. Instead of filling a goodie bag with paper coupons and booklets-  which costs a few trees – everything can be retrieved on your preferred electronic device. Isn’t that so cool? If you use your iPhone or iPad to retrieve your coupons, just take your device to the store to get your items. No printing of the coupons – it’s all paperless! This is awesome!!!

Many sisters are making gigantic steps in reducing their carbon footprints on this wondrous earth of ours. They do this by using fewer plastic water bottles, bringing reusable shopping bags to the store, taking shorter showers, washing full loads, recycling and reusing as much as possible.  What are you doing to make a small difference?  Do you have a household plan and appropriate containers for sorting your trash?  Do you know where to take old batteries, electronics, medicine, light bulbs and other hazardous waste?

As committed folks who want the best future for our children and grandchildren, we need to continually educate ourselves about better ways to use the resources and energies of the earth.  Go to your city’s website to be informed about their environmental programs and events.  You will learn much to share with your family, friends and neighbors. And don’t forget to sign up for the Nun Run!

Gratefully,

Sister Betty Mae Bienlein
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the California Province

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Top 10 reasons to sign up for the Nun Run 5K

1.  IT’S A GREAT CAUSE: All proceeds from the race go straight to the Sisters of Notre Dame Life and Ministry Fund, which keeps the sisters covered while they serve in volunteer and unpaid ministries.

2. YOU GET COOL STUFF: Each participant will receive a Nun Run t-shirt (while supplies last), plus a delicious pancake breakfast on the day of the race and a virtual goodie bag with gifts and special offers from our sponsors. Top finishers in each age bracket will get a prize!

3.  THE 5K IS CHIP-TIMED: With help from Vendurance Sports, our 5K race will feature professional chip timing to make your race count towards your goals!

4.  IT’S A GOOD EXCUSE TO GET MOVING: The new year is right around the corner and signing up for a 5K can be a great source of motivation to keep up your workouts throughout the holiday season.

5.  ANYONE CAN DO IT: You can walk, run, skip or hop the 5K or the 1-mile course! We understand that not everyone likes to run, but we want you to join us anyway! Children of all ages are also welcome to join in this family friendly event.

6.  WE HAVE EXCELLENT HELP: Our friends La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks have agreed to help us make this event memorable. The Nun Run is a chance for you to see La Reina up close and meet some of their great staff and students.

7.  THE SISTERS ARE EXCITED: Sisters of Notre Dame are already busy sharing this event with their families and friends. They would love to see you there and cheer you on!

8.  IT’S EASY TO GET STARTED: Signing up for the Nun Run is a snap. Just go online to https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/ThousandOaks/NunRun and get going!

9.  IT’S AFFORDABLE: Since we are a new race, our 5K is just $32.50 and our 1-mile event is $22.50. We’ve kept costs down to make sure our participants are happy!

10.  YOU CAN DO MORE: We don’t just need runners. We also need volunteers, sponsors and donors to make this event a success. Send an email to events@sndca.org to find out how you can give more of your time and talents.

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La Reina adds 6th grade class

La Reina High School and Middle School, located in Thousand Oaks, California, was founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1964. The school recently announced that it will add a sixth grade class in the 2015-2016 school year. Click here to read more.

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Heritage Tours begin at Notre Dame Center

Sister Mary LaReina and Sister Marie Paul are giving Notre Dame heritage tours this month to seventh graders at La Reina High School. What do you remember about Saint Julie and the founding sisters?

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Calling all La Reina High School Alumnae!

La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, California, is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year! If you are a former Regent, check out the alumni Facebook page here for fun events coming soon.

 

 

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Jubilee Celebration 2014

Congratulations to our Jubilarians!

Sister Mary LaReina – 50th
Sister Margaret Mary – 40th
Sister Julie Marie – 40th
Sister Mary Leanne – 25th

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate!

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Sister retires from math competition after nearly 30 years

Sister Mary Josanne Furey relied on what she calls the “creative muse” to help her come up with original math problems for the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) every year since 1985.

The AMC is a series of challenging math tests for students in grades six through 12, put on by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Each year over 350,000 students in roughly 6,000 schools participate in the contests, according to the MAA website. The top-scoring students make it all the way to the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad. From there, students are invited to participate in international competitions.

Sister Mary Josanne began teaching at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks in 1966 and served as principal there from 1970 to 1983. While there, she started her own mathematics competition for 7^th and 8^th graders. Then in 1984, she transferred to Saint Bonaventure High School in Ventura and installed the competition there as well. While she was teaching there, the AMC approached her to help them create their first test for 7^th and 8^th graders, which was given in 1985.

She joined a team of 15 mathematicians who gathered once a year to put together the 25-question, timed tests. The tests are purely for extra-curricular competition, not letter-grades, and the students learn during the year is fair game for the test.

“The problems weren’t simple,” Sister Mary Josanne said, “I had to create the circumstances to make them difficult.”

Sister Mary Josanne is 89 years old, and celebrated her 65^th Jubilee last summer. Her last task for the AMC was to review the questions that will be used on the test in November of this year.

“When you’re out of the field for so long, the creative muse doesn’t help you,” she said. “But it’s been a wonderful experience.”

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Sisters applaud La Reina High School on Blue Ribbon Honor

The Sisters of Notre Dame proudly celebrated the success of La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, California, which was founded by the sisters in 1964. La Reina was recently named a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School; an honor given to just 50 private schools in the nation each year by the U.S. Department of Education. Representatives from La Reina enjoyed an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. in November, and La Reina hosted its own ceremony on November 25. Those in attendance included Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

“This nationally recognized award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating outstanding schools where students gain the knowledge, skills and character to meet 21st century challenges,” Brownley said.

Several Sisters of Notre Dame looked on as La Reina Principal Shannon Gomez accepted congratulations from Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la-Peña and Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks.

“On behalf of the Sisters of Notre Dame of the California province, and as a member of the Class of 1969, it is my distinct honor to congratulate La Reina’s trustees, administration, faculty, staff and students on being named a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School…We offer our deepest gratitude to all who are partners with us in our important mission and we look forward to great celebrations in 2014, La Reina’s 50th anniversary year,” said Provincial Superior Sister Mary Anncarla Costello.

Sisters attend Blue Ribbon celebration at La Reina.

Provincial Superior Sister Mary Anncarla Costello commends La Reina.

Sister Mary Rebekah Kennedy, a teacher at La Reina, and her student.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley congratulates students, staff and faculty.

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