The Student Newspaper of Notre Dame High School

The Catalyst
The Student Newspaper of Notre Dame High School

The Catalyst
The Student Newspaper of Notre Dame High School

The Catalyst
Molly Phan

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief

Molly Phan is a senior at NDB and it is her third year with The Catalyst. She was involved in the journalism club her sophomore year and served as the Opinion Editor her junior year. She enjoys her English and History classes and has played basketball throughout her time at NDB. She is excited to explore more about high school journalism during the 2022-2023 school year.

All content by Molly Phan
The Class of 2023 says goodbye to NDB

The Class of 2023 says goodbye to NDB

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
May 24, 2023
Letter from the Editor in Chief: Molly Phan says farewell to The Catalyst

Letter from the Editor in Chief: Molly Phan says farewell to The Catalyst

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
May 24, 2023
Head of School Meredith Essalat spent the year getting to know the NDB community.

Meredith Essalat reflects on her first year as head of school

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
May 24, 2023
ChatGPT can answer virtually anything, mimicking the thoughts of students and allowing them to easily plagiarize.

ChatGPT poses ethical challenges in education

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
March 28, 2023
NDB community on Women's History Month

NDB community on Women’s History Month

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
March 28, 2023
Senior Ciara Kingham shares her experience in Irish dance

Senior Ciara Kingham shares her experience in Irish dance

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
March 28, 2023
Students attend St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Francisco

Students attend St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Francisco

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
March 28, 2023
Alumnae Career Day: Taj Alavi ‘94 and others return to campus and share their career journeys

Alumnae Career Day: Taj Alavi ‘94 and others return to campus and share their career journeys

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
February 9, 2023
Students dance the night away at the annual winter formal.

“Once Upon a Dream”: Students gather for annual winter formal

Molly Phan and Eva Nichter
February 9, 2023

Senior athletes reflect on their final year

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
February 9, 2023
In recent years, TikTok has had a significant impact on trends everywhere.

TikTok influencers should be more aware of the effect of their content

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
February 9, 2023
From the archives: Students attend the SoCal College Visit trip in 2020, the last time that school-sponsored trips were offered.

InterSession program will become annual starting in 2023

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
December 9, 2022
Olivia McGlynn ‘26 dribbles the ball toward the goal during JV soccer practice.

Winter sports seasons begin at NDB

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
December 9, 2022
Students and their families participate in community service opportunities to help those in need.

Giving back to the community during the holidays

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
December 9, 2022
The changes in weather and time during the winter can be difficult to adapt to.

Staying positive and productive during the winter season

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
December 9, 2022
Shopping online has become very accessible making it a convenient option.

[Photo] Should you shop in person or online this holiday season?

Mia Muzzi and Ashley Turner
December 9, 2022
Students rely on caffeinated drinks to boost their energy levels.

[Photo] NDB students are too dependent on caffeine

Hannah Nebres, Arts & Life Editor
December 9, 2022
Link Crew members used masks and baseball bats as props to scare freshmen.

Freshmen attend annual Link-O-Ween haunted house

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
October 28, 2022
Director of Advancement Celine Curran thanked NDB's guest speakers for sharing their stories and inspiring students.

NDB Women’s Leadership student program returns

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
October 26, 2022
“BeReal” captures both the user and their surroundings at the same time to be authentic.

Social media will never BeReal

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
October 21, 2022
Eighth grade students and their families are welcomed by members of the Ambassador Board.

Admissions season for the Class of 2027 begins at NDB

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
October 21, 2022
ASB Spirit Director Zeina Zumot works on signs representing each of the Spirit Days to hang in the hallways.

[Photo] NDB prepares for fall spirit events

Lauren Fitzgerald, Staff Writer
October 21, 2022
ASB officers express their disappointment about recent student behavior during Tuesday's assembly.

Breaking News: ASB officers discuss consequences for recent student behavior

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
October 12, 2022
Meredith Essalat begins tenure as NDB head of school

Meredith Essalat begins tenure as NDB head of school

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
September 23, 2022
Letter from the Editor in Chief

Letter from the Editor in Chief

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
September 23, 2022
Wildcats get their head in the game for senior year

Wildcats get their head in the game for senior year

Molly Phan, Editor in Chief
September 23, 2022
Traffic on Ralston in the mornings was made significantly worse with local schools starting around the same time.

[Photo] Early start times at local schools worsen traffic around NDB

Dayna Sockol, Staff Writer
September 23, 2022
Meet the new "staffulty"

Meet the new “staffulty”

Molly Phan, Mia Muzzi, and Eva Nichter
August 16, 2022
NDB community members gather for the opening of the Father Downey Garden.

Community dedicates newly beautified Father Downey Garden

Molly Phan and Lauren Fitzgerald
August 14, 2022

Monarchs, Dragons and Wildcats elect new class presidents

Gulianna Ceschin and Molly Phan
May 24, 2022
The new ASB officers will lead NDB through the 2022-2023 school year.

New ASB officers elected to lead next year’s student body

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
May 24, 2022
Members of the Class of 2023 celebrate in preparation for what would become a victory at Aquacades last April.

A junior’s point of view: Looking ahead to senior year

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
May 24, 2022
Mendoza, McGuire and Saperstein commit to play collegiate sports on Signing Day.

Senior athletes head off to collegiate sports

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
May 24, 2022
Gabby Wylie-Chaney prepares for her AP exams.

In-person AP exams return

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
May 24, 2022
Daley, Tam and Lewis were chosen based on GPA, extracurriculars, community service and leadership.

Class of 2022 valedictorians and salutatorian named

Brooke Horvai and Molly Phan
May 24, 2022
Student-athletes are constantly working hard toward their academic and athletic goals, and they deserve more support.

Student-athlete mental health deserves more attention

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
April 8, 2022
Things to do: Spring activities in the Bay Area

Things to do: Spring activities in the Bay Area

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
April 8, 2022
During collaboration, students work with and without their masks because masking is now a “personal choice.”

[Photo] Board editorial: Our “personal choice” is to keep wearing our masks

Editorial Staff
April 8, 2022
Mary Courtney Templeton (left), Coco Meercamp and Sienna Loar enjoy the Gatsby Ball festivities hosted in NDB’s dining room.

[Photo] Juniors celebrate the Roaring ’20s with the Gatsby Ball

Desea Bond, Staff Writer
April 8, 2022
Junior Molly Phan’s cousins Gabriella Garcia and Emily Ott participated in Journalism class.

[Photo] NDB welcomes little sisters to campus to shadow

Gulianna Ceschin, News Editor
April 8, 2022
The NDB sisterhood makes the new world of high school easier to navigate for freshmen.

[Photo] Advice from a senior: What I wish I knew as a freshman

Emma Boyd, Staff Writer
April 8, 2022
Wendy Connolly, History Teacher

Wendy Connolly, History Teacher

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
March 18, 2022
Caitlin Degnan '24

Caitlin Degnan ’24

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
March 18, 2022
Students answered reflection questions and shared them with their homeroom after listening to Dr. Roy.

NDB hosts DEI speaker Dr. Loriene Roy

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
March 10, 2022
Students from the Class of 2023 pose before going to Winter Formal in 2020.

Why I’m disappointed by a postponed Winter Formal

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
February 11, 2022
Varsity basketball warms up to play Woodside Priory, a game that was postponed a week due to several positive Priory COVID-19 cases.

Rising COVID-19 cases across Bay Area hinders winter sports schedules

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
February 11, 2022
Junior Kate Davidson utilizes her planner to reach her goals for 2022.

How to find success with New Year’s resolutions

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
February 11, 2022
Affrunti plays at one of her last games from her sophomore year.

Soccer: Junior Stella Affrunti plans her return to the field

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
February 11, 2022
Textbooks and calculators are accessable and helpful materials for SAT and ACT prepartaion.

[Photo] Test optional? You should still take your ACT and SATs

Editorial Staff
February 11, 2022
NBD graduates from years 2000-2021 attend the annual alumnae game to play against and watch their old teammates.

Basketball hosts Alumnae Game

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
December 12, 2021

Should students be allowed to wear free dress during finals? (Con)

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
December 12, 2021
Students in history teacher Matthew Hankins’ homeroom take advantage of their study time during Collaboration to work on assignments for their various classes.

Students need “me time” during Collaboration for studying

Mia Muzzi and Molly Phan
December 10, 2021
Juniors in math teacher Leonardo Bardomero’s classroom view lessons on their laptops, instead hard copy textbooks or handouts.

The assignment is due tonight?: Limiting deadlines to next class can help students separate academic and personal time

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
December 10, 2021
Annette Henderson presents speaker, Sylvia Morales with flowers to thank her for her contribution to NDB's DEI program.

NDB’s second Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program (DEI)

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
December 10, 2021
Claudia Aguirre

Q&A: International students spending holidays in another country

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
December 10, 2021
Students in homeroom are stressed when studying for their upcoming final exams.

[Photo] Do finals really test our knowledge or are they just stressful?

Delaney Icard-Cullen, Staff Writer
December 10, 2021
Improving student mental health is an important part of the NDB community, especially with the return to on-campus learning.

Back on campus, student mental health still matters

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
October 29, 2021
Junior Genna Klein visits the University of Virginia over fall break.

Students enjoy mid-October’s fall break

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
October 29, 2021
Juniors Kassie Hickson and Anna Keim stay COVID-19 safe at the Tame Impala concert.

[Photo] How to be COVID-19 safe at a music festival

Mia Muzzi, Arts & Life Editor
October 29, 2021
Juniors show off their school uniforms.

Back to campus, back to uniforms

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
October 1, 2021
The Wildcats support their Monarch sisters in the first rally.

Fly like a Monarch, bite like a Wildcat

Molly Phan, Opinion Editor
October 1, 2021
The giants crowd watching one of the team's pre-playoff games.

[Photo] SF Giants head to the playoffs

Francesca Arbelaez, Sports Co-Editor
October 1, 2021
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