Bellarmine Jefferson High School

Brown -- Ortiz Debra D. Brown, the daughter of Virginia Brown of Burbank, and Ryan G. Ortiz, the son of Sergio and Yolanda Ortiz of Glendale, have announced their engagement. The bride-to-be graduated from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in 1994 and received her associate in arts degree in interior design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 1996. She is a designer and space planner for Trendway Corp. in downtown Los Angeles.

BURROUGHS/BURBANK Class officials have decided to have a joint reunion instead of two separate gatherings tonight. The 1976 classes of Burbank and John Burroughs high schools will have their 25-year reunion at The Castaway, 1250 Harvard Road, in Burbank. For more information, call (800) 385-5638, ext. 107, or (661) 297-0361. BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL Burbank High School Class of 1961 will have its 40-year reunion Nov. 10 at the Holiday Inn in Burbank.

Debra Brown of Burbank and Ryan Ortiz of Burbank were married at the Little White Chapel in Burbank. The Rev. Ronald Degges officiated. The maid of honor was Jessica Blanco, a childhood friend of the bride. Serving as bridesmaids were Melissa Giangrasso and Monica Munoz, and Tatiyana Ortiz was the junior bridesmaid. Dino Ortiz, the groom's brother, was the best man. Serving as the groomsman was Victor Castellanos, and Sean Ortiz was the junior groomsman.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has pledged to continue supporting Bellarmine-Jefferson High School despite declining enrollment and recent announcements that the school's principal and athletic director will step down this year. In late March, Principal John Matheus said he planned to take a sabbatical. The school's athletic director, David Machuca, announced he was leaving Bell-Jeff to become offensive coordinator for the Glendale Community College Vaqueros football team . “There's a lot going on at the school right now,” Machuca said, adding that he couldn't pass up an opportunity to work at Glendale Community College, despite having been at Bell-Jeff for just one year.

Irma Lemus BURBANK -- Burbank High School Key Club students will host a dinner to raise money for two children with cerebral palsy. The student group, in collaboration with United Cerebral Palsy and the office of Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Burbank), will hold a fund-raising dinner at 6:30 p.m. March 12 in the Bellarmine-Jefferson High School cafeteria. Money raised will be used for treatment, said Armen Zenjiryan, a key club member and coordinator of the event.

High school diplomas were handed out this weekend to nearly 90 Bellarmine-Jefferson High School and 144 Providence High School seniors. Bellarmine-Jefferson High seniors took their first steps on the road to adulthood on Saturday during a graduation ceremony at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. The event featured a performance by the Senior Chorus, replete with a full band of graduating musicians who played Bob Marley?s ?Three Little Birds.

A woman who was taking her son to the Burbank Central Library lost control of her car and crashed into Bellarmine Jefferson High School on Tuesday afternoon. The unidentified woman might have stepped onto the accelerator instead of the brake at 5 p.m., Burbank Fire Capt. Jim Baldridge said. She collided with the outer wall of the school's cafeteria at 465 E. Olive Ave., he added. "Apparently, the occupant mistook backward for forward and ran her vehicle over the curb and into the school," he said.

HESTER Kelly Bell and Rob Hester were married at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Santa Clarita. Father Malcolm Ambrose officiated. Traditional Irish and Scottish music was played by a bagpiper as guests arrived at the reception inside the Hyatt Valencia. The maid of honor was Stacey Jarrin. Serving as bridesmaids were Heather Cato, Cathy Malloy and Katie Shulman. Mike Hester was the best man. The groomsmen were Laz Barajas, Andy Curtin and Carl Johnson.

Irma Lemus HILLSIDE DISTRICT --After eight months of planning a benefit dinner for two children with cerebral palsy, Burbank High School Key Club members saw their hard work pay off in a big way. The high school club raised $12,000 at the fund-raising dinner held at Bellarmine-Jefferson High School on March 12, said Armen Zenjiryan, the Burbank High senior who coordinated the event. The dinner was attended by about 200 community leaders and members, he said.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has pledged to continue supporting Bellarmine-Jefferson High School despite declining enrollment and recent announcements that the school's principal and athletic director will step down this year. In late March, Principal John Matheus said he planned to take a sabbatical. The school's athletic director, David Machuca, announced he was leaving Bell-Jeff to become offensive coordinator for the Glendale Community College Vaqueros football team . “There's a lot going on at the school right now,” Machuca said, adding that he couldn't pass up an opportunity to work at Glendale Community College, despite having been at Bell-Jeff for just one year.

Chords from a towering organ echoed through the airy sanctuary at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Saturday as graduates from Bellarmine- Jefferson High School completed their final rites as students. The group of 82 students was the first-ever high school class to hold a complete graduation ceremony at the downtown landmark, a site that added to the excitement of the day, students said. “It’s special,” graduate Kevin Ortega said. “I loved it.” The ceremony brought an end to an educational experience that had involved close bonds at a high school of 310 students, a fraction of other schools nearby, graduates said.

STANLEY FAMILY HAS FIVE GENERATIONS IN TOWN Congratulations to the Doris and Wayne Stanley family, which has close to 100 members still living in the Burbank, Glendale and surrounding areas. The couple had 12 children all baptized in the Catholic church in the local area. While the family settled just over the border in Glendale in 1965, they chose St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Burbank as their parish and the grade school and high school for their children?s education.

High school diplomas were handed out this weekend to nearly 90 Bellarmine-Jefferson High School and 144 Providence High School seniors. Bellarmine-Jefferson High seniors took their first steps on the road to adulthood on Saturday during a graduation ceremony at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. The event featured a performance by the Senior Chorus, replete with a full band of graduating musicians who played Bob Marley?s ?Three Little Birds.

Nearly 90 Bellarmine- Jefferson High School seniors took the first steps on the road to college Saturday during a graduation ceremony marked by teary goodbyes and jubilant send-offs at Forest Lawn’s Hall of Liberty. “Today isn’t just a high school graduation, it’s the epitome of our high school career,” said graduate Maria Hintog, who delivered the ceremonies’ salutatory address in front of 87 fellow graduating seniors and hundreds of parents, relatives and friends.

This holiday season has shone a lot brighter for the homeless and needy because of the selfless efforts made by hundreds of community volunteers. Those who give of themselves define the true meaning of this season and deserve to be recognized and thanked. Several of these efforts, such as cash donation campaigns, toy and food drives and a community dinner, have been organized by volunteers of the Burbank Coordinating Council, Salvation Army Burbank Corps and Burbank Temporary Aid Center.

Edwin Alvarado, Michelle Monique Alvarez, Paulo Antonio Anzaldo, Avel John Madrid Aquino, Niko Christopher Argento, Robert Nazar Arjoyan, Michael Alexander Armas, Matthew Edward Armstrong, Jordan Joseph Berry, Arman Haik Boyadjian, Alexandria Marie Briseno, Julia Rose Bywater, Kelsey Reed Carapia, Sergio A. Carvajal, Amanda Cepero, Daniel Choi, Paul James Cayetano Chumnikai, Devon Amanda Clark, Renato Roxas-Cristi Jr., Mark Daniel G. Cristobal,...

Send DATEBOOK items to Burbank Leader, 221 N. Brand Blvd., 2nd Floor, Glendale, CA 91203 or fax to (818) 241-1975. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. TODAY Fondazione Italia's Carnevale Party will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Eleanor Hall, Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, 465 E. Olive Ave., Burbank. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra will perform three Mozart concertos at 8 p.m. at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.