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The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School

The Scarlet Scroll
The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School

The Scarlet Scroll
The Student Newspaper at Mater Dei High School

The Scarlet Scroll
SETTING THE STAGE: Mater Dei’s Song Team poses at the beginning of their energizing routine at the Fall Sports Rally. On Friday, Aug. 30, the Song members performed for the student body in honor of the fall athletic season and to encourage school spirit. Through their performance, students left the rally ready to demonstrate their MD pride at the numerous sports games to come. “We want to support all of the fall sports and bring spirit to our school,” junior Sophia Schrader said. Photo by
COMPLIMENTARY COMPANIONS Seniors Niko Manapat and Josh Sumbong sit together on the bench after working hard together and constantly lifting their teammates up. Sharing a nonstop train of compliments helps them to make sure they feel confident even during high pressure moments. “I keep myself and others motivated by keeping a positive mindset and focusing on the next play instead of focusing on past mistakes,” senior Niko Manapat said. Photo courtesy of
BODYBUILDING ACTIONS: Freshman Presley Patrick does a box jump in the weight room during his team’s designated weight time. This is one of the many exercises that are available in the weight room in order to build strength within athletes. “[The weight room] brings everyone together and the energy is massive,” Patrick said. Photo illustration by
A LEGACY LIVES ON Freshman Liam Estrada and junior Alice Eskander pose with the Barajas family after being awarded the Anthony Barajas Scholarship on Nov. 1, 2024. Mater Dei offers various scholarships for students that specialize in different areas of interest. Commemorated to honor the life of Anthony Barajas ‘19, this scholarship is open to students involved in both athletics and performing arts who use their God-given gifts for kindness. After winning this scholarship, Eskander hopes to carry on Barajas’ legacy by continually striving to help others each and every day. “I felt truly honored when I found out I was awarded with the Anthony Barajas Scholarship,” Eskander said. “Receiving this award encouraged me to remember Anthony in my everyday life and increase my efforts towards making sure that everyone feels loved and included in my everyday life just as he did.” Photo courtesy of Alice Eskander.
A STAFF TO REMEMBER Seniors from the 2022-2023 staff of The Scarlet Scroll and the CROWN Yearbook pose for a photo at their end of the year banquet, commemorating the amazing year they had filled with well-written articles, fantastic photos, and immense amounts of teamwork. Many of the seniors, now alum, look back on their time in Student Publications, not only learning about journalism, but about themselves. Many of them feel as if they were like family, growing friendships they always know they can turn back to. “The Scarlet Scroll not only gave me so many great memories and friends while at Mater Dei, but taught me so much about the journalism world and myself,” Ashworth said. Photo courtesy of Nicole Howard.
  • My School
    72
    Bishop O'Connell
    73
    Jan 20 / Varsity Boys Basketball
  • My School
    84
    St. John Bosco
    88
    Jan 17 / Varsity Boys Basketball
  • My School
    1
    St. John Bosco
    2
    Jan 17 / Boys' varsity soccer
  • My School
    5
    Foothill
    6
    Jan 16 / Girls' varsity water polo
  • My School
    1
    JSerra Catholic
    0
    Jan 16 / Girls' varsity soccer
  • My School
    3
    Santa Margarita
    0
    Jan 15 / Boys' varsity soccer
  • My School
    12
    Rosary Academy
    5
    Jan 14 / Girls' varsity water polo
  • My School
    83
    Servite
    68
    Jan 10 / Varsity Boys Basketball
  • My School
    1
    Servite
    2
    Jan 10 / Boys' varsity soccer
News
STUDENTS IN JOURNALISM Senior Ava Gomez and junior Leo Tordera read over the Mater Dei student-led publications: The CROWN Yearbook and The Scarlet Scroll Newspaper. Reviewing previous publications allows students to get a head start, learning journalistic skills, such as writing and conducting interviews, that can carry them through their professional careers. The compilation includes stories that represent both the student body as a whole, as well as highlighting world events that have an impact on the Monarch community. “Telling stories is important,” senior Sam De Guzman said. “The Scarlet Scroll has opened the world of journalism up to me.” Photo taken by Sam De Guzman.
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AN AI FOR EDUCATION Sophomore Sofia Rudolf scrolls through Magic School AI’s many features. Rudolf enjoys using tools such as the writing feedback option, in order to gain a new perspective on her work. “I do like the writing feedback [tool],” Rudolf said. “It gives you good input to help elaborate on some stuff.”
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SPINNING INTO FUN The iconic Ferris wheel at the Irvine Spectrum stands glimmering in the sun, drawing visitors from all over Orange County. A favorite destination for Mater Dei students, the Spectrum offers endless opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment. “[It’s] a lot of fun,” sophomore Matthew Delaney said. “[And] everything is close by, so it’s a great way to pass the hours.” Photo by
How Mater Dei Students Enjoy Orange County Outside of School
February 5, 2025

Mater Dei students not only excel in academics and athletics but have also mastered balance, spending free time enjoying their vibrant surroundings. Orange County (OC) offers...

Features
MAKING WAVES Junior and driver Ayla Ackerman shoots the ball while an opposing player attempts to guard her. The Mater Dei Varsity Girls Water Polo Team faced off against the Laguna Beach Breakers on Dec. 13 in a legendary match. The Monarchs won the game with a final score of 12-6. Not only did these girls demonstrate their shooting accuracy, swimming speed, and excellent teamwork, they displayed their passion and dedication for the sport. “I would say [water polo has taught] me perseverance, resilience, discipline, and to trust my teammates and coaches,” senior Mia Sullivan said. Photo by Paige Deiparine.
Treading on and off the deck: Girls Water Polo Feature
February 19, 2025
LOCKED IN FOR SUCCESS Senior Lily Pham attentively concentrates on her AP Computer Science Principles notes. After experimenting with different study techniques, Pham discovered that creating her own revision notes and doing practice questions worked best for her adaptation with a heavy academic calendar. “There is a lot of new knowledge and information that I need to catch up with others,” Pham said. Photo courtesy of Lily Pham.
Seniors Reflect on Their Toughest Years of High School
February 18, 2025
ALL SET TO PERFORM Juniors Thomas Mitchell, Diego Casarin, and senior Grace Henze pose in front of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, ready to perform for the annual Fall Concert. From Oct. 20 to Oct. 21, Chambers singers took the stage to showcase their vocal talent and celebrate months of dedicated preparation to the Mater Dei community. “This was my first year in Chambers, and I’m just proud that I get to do what I love with my best friends, especially because there’s so many hours that go into our rehearsals,” Henze said. Photo courtesy of
Voices in Sync: An Inside Look into Chambers
February 5, 2025
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News briefs
News Briefs for Feb. 18
February 17, 2025
News Briefs for Feb. 14
February 14, 2025
News Briefs for Feb. 11
February 11, 2025
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Sports
LAST DITCH EFFORT Freshman Max Chyczewski chases after sophomore Phoenix Dickinson, who has the puck, to prevent her from scoring. Defense is an important part of a hockey team, and being able to chase after a player with a puck and stopping them from scoring is an essential part of that role. “Something that can be really rewarding [about playing center/forward] is being able to have more chances to score,” Dickinson said.
Preparing For Another Season – Ice Hockey Feature
November 13, 2024
ONE TEAM The Mater Dei athletes and coaches prepare for a competitive game with a team huddle to motivate the girls and review their plays. The Girls Varsity Volleyball Team geared up for a tough game against Mira Costa. Hosted in the Meruelo Athletic Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, these two teams played it out until the end. “My goals are always to make sure that the team is playing as one,” O’Dell said. Not only did Mater Dei dominate this game, the team will forever be known as a fantastic group of players that always works together.
Girls Volleyball: Expectations for the Season
October 4, 2024
View All
Sports
LAST DITCH EFFORT Freshman Max Chyczewski chases after sophomore Phoenix Dickinson, who has the puck, to prevent her from scoring. Defense is an important part of a hockey team, and being able to chase after a player with a puck and stopping them from scoring is an essential part of that role. “Something that can be really rewarding [about playing center/forward] is being able to have more chances to score,” Dickinson said.
Preparing For Another Season – Ice Hockey Feature
November 13, 2024
ONE TEAM The Mater Dei athletes and coaches prepare for a competitive game with a team huddle to motivate the girls and review their plays. The Girls Varsity Volleyball Team geared up for a tough game against Mira Costa. Hosted in the Meruelo Athletic Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, these two teams played it out until the end. “My goals are always to make sure that the team is playing as one,” O’Dell said. Not only did Mater Dei dominate this game, the team will forever be known as a fantastic group of players that always works together.
Girls Volleyball: Expectations for the Season
October 4, 2024
STRATEGY IS KEY Head Coach Josh Goedl discusses game plays and strategy during a break. Athletes like senior Leigh Stout find that communication is an important aspect of the game. “Having a community that actually cares how you're doing, cares about how you play, [and] your mental health, is a good type of team to depend on,” Stout said.
One Year In: Flag Football
September 17, 2024
Culture
A YEAR IN REVIEW Between Nov. and Dec. 2024, 57 respondents voted for their favorite songs, artists, and albums. Every category had multiple options, and each one faced tight competition as the artists Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish battled for the top spots. Students like senior Payton Bauer encourages others to check out other popular singers, if they haven’t already. “I would say [listen to Carpenter] if you're [wanting to] feel good about yourself,” Bauer said. “Or maybe you just want something to work out or dance to. [Her music is] really fun.”
Mater Dei Wrapped: Which Artists and Songs Did Students Enjoy The Most?
February 5, 2025
GAME TIME: Students enjoy the action packed gameplay that mobile games provide for them as they play “Brawl Stars”. Games allow students to collaborate and create stronger bonds in the Monarch community. Whether it's a small game that is familiar between a close group of friends, or a popular game everybody knows, students share a collective interest and strengthen ties between each other. Photo by Kenny Smith, Staff Reporter for The Scarlet Scroll. GAME TIME: Students enjoy the action packed gameplay that mobile games provide for them as they play “Brawl Stars”. Games allow students to collaborate and create stronger bonds in the Monarch community. Whether it's a small game that is familiar between a close group of friends, or a popular game everybody knows, students share a collective interest and strengthen ties between each other. Photo by Kenny Smith, Staff Reporter for The Scarlet Scroll.
The Rise of Mobile Games
January 10, 2025
TRICKY TRIGONOMETRY Math Teacher Eugene Hung carefully goes over a recent unit test with his Honors Precalculus class, guiding students through key concepts in hopes to improve their understanding. Hung wishes his students to not only understand mathematical concepts, but also gain effective test-taking strategies. He encourages students to learn from each question in order to gear up for future exams. “This helps me to make sure that I’m not including extraneous content in the review because I don’t want students spending time studying things that won’t show up on the test,” Hung said. Photo by Stella Pham.
How to Ace your Finals Week
December 10, 2024
Multimedia
HOT COCOA IN COLD WEATHER Seniors Kalani Kunimura (far right) and Dalton Bulowski (second right) celebrate the holiday season with a cup of hot cocoa, handed out by the Parent Association Council during upper lunch. On Monday, Dec. 2, Monarchs kicked off the Christmas Spirit Week, transforming the campus into a Winter Wonderland with festive all-white snow day outfits. “It’s awesome to celebrate Christmas culture with the Mater Dei community,” Bulowski said.
Christmas Spirit Week
January 23, 2025
The Surfrider Foundation works to combat ocean pollution and make tangible changes through state legislature.
Celebrating Earth Day
April 24, 2022
WITH WIDE ARMS: Senior Kira Imhoff, in the role of Ariel, yells as senior London Coco Griffin, playing Prospero, looks on with pride. Throughout the play, Imhoff performed musical solos as Prospero’s servant spirit. “It felt so refreshing to return to in-person plays,” Imhoff said. “Having an audience to interact with made theatre feel like theatre again. I felt so blessed to be doing live theatre with an amazing cast and crew. Everyone killed it and I was so happy to work with them. You should have seen Mrs. Slay, [she] was so enthusiastic and pumped to get back.”
Photo slideshow: Theatre holds Shakespeare in the Grotto after two year hiatus
October 29, 2021
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