Bronco *GREAT* News c/o 2025
2023-24 11th Grade Edition- Semester 1
Recognizing Bronco Excellence in the 11th Grade!
First Semester Honor Roll
Congratulations to these 11th grade students for their academic achievement first semester-
with GPA's of 3.5-3.74, they have earned a spot on the honor roll!
Special Teacher Recognition -11th Grade
Ahi Ma'ake
From Mr. Bauleke:
She is a source of joy and energy, and lifts up everyone she is around.
Zechariah Akbari
From Mrs. Weer:
Zechariah always comes to class ready to learn and contribute. He is a hard worker, and his effort is noted daily. Zechariah is a joy to have in class and a model student.
Andrew Tomczak
From Mrs. Gopal:
He is respectful and considerate to others in the class.
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Victor Barrera
From Ms. Benavente:
Victor came to my class, not very confident in math but ready to try. This ended up paying off as he's been crushing it. He went from telling me he's not good in math to taking on each new topic and powering through, asking clarifying questions along the way. He will one day open up a flower show called Flor de Victor, Con Amor, and I'm excited to watch it bloom as he has!
Harry Beyer
From Mrs. Weer:
Harry is a great listener and has a passion for knowledge. He is kind and helpful to others and a joy to have in class!
Brandon Johnson
From Ms. Landry:
For lending a helping hand to his peers in need.
Special Teacher Recognition - 11th grade
Brayden Rapa
From Ms. Costello:
Brayden is always kind. He is kind to everyone! He is quiet and unassuming. Students love him!
Natalie Brooks
From Mrs. O'Neill:
Natalie is always an eager participant in AP Literature. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude contribute to our wonderful class environment.
Mark Burenko
From Mr. Corbett:
Mark has continued and expanded his If I Could Change the World Project into a second year. He has organized a club to help teenagers in Ukraine practice their English language skills by having conversations with Northgate students via zoom. Both as a school project last year and a student club this year, Mark's efforts have helped forge cross-cultural connections and has been a powerful experience for student participants.
Corrigan
From Ms. Scott:
Corrigan is a fantastic student who constantly engaged in class and asking thoughtful questions, a joy to have in my class daily!
From Mrs. Landry:
For lending a helping hand to her peers in need.
From Mrs. O'Neill:
Corrigan makes me laugh daily. I appreciate the humor, positive attitude, and deep insights provide almost every class period.
Special Teacher Recognition - 11th Grade
Aidan Cairns
From Ms. Starr:
Period 2 Roshambo winner! Aidan is also very positive and brings a lot of energy to class. He was also the best audience singer when the German students came to sing for us.
Chase Caparaz
From Ms. Scott:
Chase is always so polite, kind to his classmates, and volunteers to help out when needed! He bravely volunteered to help a Coopers Hawk who was lost in the art wing last fall, and was successful in getting the lost bird out of the building and back to the wild!
Max Carlos
From Mrs. O'Neil:
Max always strives to do his best. His positivity and humor make our first period class so much fun everyday.
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Connor Weitl
From Mrs. Weer:
Connor is an overall great student! He is polite and respectful, focused and always engaged, and his effort and determination in APPC is awesome! Connor is a joy to have in class.
Jessie Eddy
From Mr. Bauleke:
Sarah is so amazing! She is always on time. Does her work without complaint. Funny and relates well with the kids.
Eytan Jeurgens
From Mr. Farrar:
Eytan has helped take Rocky for at least 50 walks so far this semester. He always seem to show up at the right time when I am having a busy day and I have been neglecting Rocky. Eytan is positive and polite and always brings a kind smile with him wherever he goes.
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Mackenzie Frick
From Mrs. O'Neil:
Mackenzie always contributes to our AP class in positive and insightful ways. I really appreciate the enthusiasm she brings to class daily.
Yotam Gayer
From Ms. Costello:
Yotam is a positive leader. He helps to get students on task by making jokes. Students gravitate towards him because of his funny and welcoming demeanor.
Gohar Mashal
From Ms. Starr:
Period 1 Roshambo winner! Gohar was also part of the team that won for the Tissue Project in Period 1. She is unstoppable!
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Grayson Boustead
From Mr. Ahn:
Grayson is always ready for our team sports class. He is a great example for the other students with his effort and competitiveness. He also treats others with respect, and that is recognized.
Peyton Hall
From Mrs. Scott:
Peyton is funny, hard working, and a joy to have in my class!
Hana Neuman
From Ms. Starr:
Whether she sees me in class or the hall, Hana is always engaging, warm and friendly. I am truly touched by her daily kindness.
High Honors
Congratulations to these 11th grade students for their outstanding academic achievement
first semester, they have made it to the high honors list with GPA's of 3.75-3.99.
Special Teacher Recognition - 11th Grade
Matthew Heidt
From Mrs. Gopal:
Shows great responsibility and is willing to help others. Keep it up!
Nick Hernandez
From Ms. Costello:
Nick is always willing to help other students. He's good at helping other students with math. He is patient and let's the other students ask questions.
Kieu Huynh
From Frau Nancy:
Kieu is an outstanding student. She always does her work, pays attention in class, and is truly interested in improving her English Language skills. She is pretty quiet, and doesn't ask many questions, but her work is steadily improving and I'm sure she will be successful.
The Principal's List
Congratulations to these 11th grade students for crushing this first semester, with GPA's of 4.0 and above. They have earned their spot on the Principal's List!
Special Teacher Recognition - 11th Grade
Kegan Harmston
From Frau Nancy:
Kegan has always struggled a bit in German, but I have seen few students who work as hard as they do. They always do the homework, and they are not shy in asking for an extension when needed because of time or actually needing to engage with the material a little more. They aren't afraid of admitting they don't know the answer, and try very hard to figure out what the right answers are. Keep up the good work, Kegan: if you are anything it is tenacious! Mach weiter so, Kegan!
Dominic Lawson
From Ms. Carmon:
Dominic was able to pass the Certiport Adobe Professional Certification in Photoshop on the first attempt. This is an industry standard test that tests a person's ability to work with Photoshop.
Keira Lund
From Mrs. Starr:
Keira missed a big test because of a soccer tournament. Without even prompting her, she was ready to make up the exam the day she returned. She was not able to study while she was away but she used her plane ride home to make sure she was prepared. She truly showed what a mature responsible young lady she is!
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Varh Castellon-Gutierrez
From Mrs. O'Neil:
Varh is so kind and funny. Her humor makes our 2nd period AP class so much fun.
Bobby Walker
From Ms. Gopal:
Bobby is kind to others in the class. He is very positive.
Zabina Ebrahime
From Ms. Casillas:
Zabina showed great perseverance and dedication in learning Spanish this semester. She reached out for help on several occasions and developed study skills that helped her achieve success in my class. Keep up the great work and attitude Zabina!
Special Teacher Recognition Mars Leto
From Mr. Litten:
I would like to express my utmost admiration and appreciation for the exceptional talents of Mars Leto, the director of our Production Workshop play "The Drafts."
"The Drafts" was not just any ordinary play; it was a masterpiece that pushed the boundaries of our imagination. Through its deep and challenging scenes, Mars Leto managed to captivate our hearts and minds. Their ability to bring out the raw emotions of each character truly showcased their talent as a director. The intensity Mars infused into every rehearsal was palpable, leaving us all in awe.
But it wasn't just their artistic vision that made Mars stand out; it was also their exceptional project management skills. Rehearsals can often be chaotic and disorganized, but under Mars' guidance, they were streamlined and efficient. Both Mars and Bryn Sullivan meticulously planned each session, ensuring that every actor had ample time to develop their characters while maintaining a cohesive narrative.
Mars' assertiveness played a crucial role in shaping the success of "The Drafts." They fearlessly challenged actors to push beyond comfort zones and explore new depths within Themselves. Mars' unwavering commitment to excellence inspired Production Workshop to deliver the best performances on stage.
Let us not underestimate the impact that Mars Leto has had on the Northgate Theatre program through their direction of "The Drafts." Their assertive leadership style combined with his artistic prowess has elevated our understanding of drama and left an indelible mark on our hearts. Mars Leto, a true visionary and an invaluable asset to our school's artistic community.
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Majed Alhejazin
From Ms. Starr:
Majed is the soul of period 4 Physio H! He brings enthusiasm, wit and kindness every day. He sets the bar for what hard work, a sense of fun and an openness to learning should be.
Joey McCall
From Ms. Gopal:
Joey's work habits and attendance has improved significantly. Keep up the good work
Claire Mohrland
From Mr. Biundo:
Claire does a great job of staying on top of everything despite a busy schedule. In the class, she works hard at helping her peers succeed as well.
Northgate Academic Honors
Northgate Academic Honors Students who earn a 3.5 or better each semester are celebrated in a progressive honor system, through their senior year. *Spring semester of senior year is not included due to timing
The tiers are as follows:
1 semester- Certificate of Accomplishment
2 semesters- Certificate of Commendation
3 semesters- Academic Letter- this is a tackle twill letter, similar to a Varsity letter for athletics- students who earn this achievement may select to purchase the letter for $10, and will be awarded a certificate as well.
4 semesters- Certificate of Academic Achievement
5 semesters- Certificate of Academic Excellence
6 Semesters- Certificate of Distinction
7 semesters- Northgate Academic Honors Cord to be worn at Graduation
Certificate of Accomplishment and Commendation
These have juniors achieved a 3.5 GPA or better for one semester.
Certificate of Commendation
These juniors earned this certificate by achieving a 3.5 GPA for two semesters.
Special Teacher Recognition -11th Grade
Cooper Moore
From Ms. Scott:
Cooper demonstrates his love for animals and science each day. He is funny, kind, and shows genuine interest in learning.
Noobah Vonan
From Ms. Collier:
Noobah is an excellent movie evaluator! He views films with a critical eye and uses the vocabulary that he has learned to talk about the films complete his assignments.
Octy Konrad
From Frau Nancy:
Octy had really improved in the classroom this year. He is pretty diligent in getting work done, seems to care about any errors he makes and correcting them, he asks pertinent questions and pays attention in class. Mach weiter so, Octy!!!
Special Teacher Recognition - 11th Grade
Joseph Padalecki
From Ms. Starr:
Joseph has shown tremendous improvement and I know he is working very hard. I am proud of him for his continued effort.
Claire Paloutzian
From Frau Nancy:
Claire is one of those quiet pillars of the class: she sits at her desk and soaks it all in. She never complains, always does her work, doesn't seem to mind when she makes mistakes: just takes advantage of the opportunity to learn from them! Her smile brightens up the room and I expect great things of her as she continues on in the program. Mach weiter so, Claire!
Ashley Price
From Ms. Starr:
Period 4 Roshambo winner! Ashley is also upbeat and a true team player. She is the foundation of her group and was part of the winning design team in the tissue project.
Special Teacher Recognition- 11th Grade
Angelica Rapa
From Ms. Gopal:
Has developed strong self-advocacy skills and grown in self-confidence. Has made great strides !
Serafina Hwang
From Mrs. O'Neil:
Serafina is an amazing writer. She has gotten perfect or nearly perfect scores on our timed writes. She also pushes herself to do better, even things that are super scary and I appreciate that she puts herself out there.
Joshua Shanker
From Ms. Landry:
For lending a helping hand to his peers in need.
Special Teacher Recognition - 11th Grade
Sofiia Svetlichnaia
From Mr. Biundo:
Sofiia has such a great attitude every day while learning a new language and participating in class. Great work, Sofiia!
Tayla Golden
From Ms. Scott:
Tayla always has great questions and experiences that she shares about her animal encounters and pets. She is kind and thoughtful towards others too!
Rafael Vale
From Ms. Carmon:
eRafael was able to pass the Certiport Adobe Professional Certification in Photoshop on the first attempt. This is an industry standard test that test a person's ability to work with Photoshop.
Students will receive a Certificate of Academic Persistence with GPA Improvements from semester to semester of .5 or better
The Academic Persistence Award
This goes to students who have improved their GPA from Spring 2023 to Fall 2023 by .5 or more, whether they are adding AP and Honors courses to their schedule, raising their game, or absolutely crushing it- these students have all seen a big jump, and that only comes with hard work, and yes- persistence.
Northgate awarded US News & World Report National Ranking- 8 years in a row!
Northgate High School
Email: cooperk@mdusd.org
Website: northgatehighschool.org
Location: 425 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925 938-0900
Twitter: @northgatehs