When it comes to campus beautification, many factors are taken into consideration for the benefit of both students and faculty alike. There are tangible changes, such as the renovation of certain aspects of Mater Dei’s infrastructure, but also new introductions into Mater Dei’s campus life to make it more vibrant. As we head into the 2024-2025 school year and beyond, Mater Dei is working hard to create changes to benefit all of the school community.

As the Monarch community centers Mater Dei through Heisman Lane, the first noticeable change comes in the form of lush greenery lining the path. Over the summer the school undertook an ongoing landscaping project, starting with the installation of more trees and plants in order to beautify the campus and enhance the campus environment. Vice President of School Relations, Scott Melvin explains why the Mater Dei administration decided to undertake these additions. 

“We are going through a very intentional effort to add more color and more vibrancy to the campus, and one of those big areas is in landscaping,” Melvin said. “You’ll hopefully see, over the next couple years, a reinvigoration of the landscaping on campus. It really does make for a beautiful park-like space for the students to come and relax and feel like they’re at a home away from home.”

Freshman Landon Snyder speaks on how he enjoys the new changes to campus and is excited for many new changes to be put into place.

“I believe the new changes on campus will improve student life by making the walk between classes more vibrant,” Snyder said. 

Mater Dei also updated the exterior signage on the corner of Bristol and Edinger, giving it a bold, fresh look. Repainted in vibrant red, gray, and white colors and paired with the current Mater Dei logo, the new sign stands out to passersby and attracts them to the campus. Melvin elaborates on how it will effectively catch the attention of potential students interested in attending the school.

“We really wanted to give a very dynamic, fresh and welcoming entryway to our campus,” Melvin said. “Bristol is one of the most traveled streets in Orange County. There are thousands of cars that go by there every single day, and by having a dynamic marquee there that grabs your attention, it might encourage a family that wouldn’t have known about us to maybe do some research on us.”

Along with these changes came the reimagining of the school mascots, Monty and Molly. Making their debut during the first school rally, the gray lion mascots ran onto the floor displaying the signature red and gray fur. Their characters embody the Monarch spirit and exhibit the characteristics of Honor, Glory, and Love. Executive Director of Student Activities Jeanette Costa believes that the new mascots will help the school’s energy and enthusiasm.

“I think they’ve already started to make a trend in improving school spirit.” Costa said. “At the last football game, they were down on the field, and then they went up in the stands and into the student section. They were getting kids up and cheering. I think you’re going to see that they’re going to have a very positive impact.”

Costa hopes that students will have more fun with changes that the school has made by creating beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

“My hope is that you’ll see an increase in school spirit, but what I really want to see is just kids having fun,” Costa said. “I want to see them creating memories in high school that they’ll tell their kids about.”

With the arrival of the new mascot, senior Grace Henze is excited for the future of school spirit. She believes that the mascots will bring more energy to student life and offer a bigger sense of excitement from the Mater Dei crowd. 

“The new mascot amplifies the pride we have for our school,” Henze said. They help us recognize what it means to be a Monarch and remember all those that have come before us.” 

Mater Dei continuously makes an effort to better the campus so that students and faculty alike may find a safe space within its walls. Melvin emphasizes Mater Dei’s priority in making sure each and every person is able to find a home away from home in the Monarch community.

“We want [Mater Dei] to be a second home,” Melvin said. “We want to be comfortable. And ultimately, we’re putting love [and] care into the school so that, in turn, hopefully students and faculty will take care of it as well and take great pride in this home that we call Mater Dei.”