Principal's Newsletter - Notre Dame High School

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,
December 2014
& January 2015
As we enter this season of celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus, I pray that joy will be present in each of your
hearts and homes.
I want to take this time on behalf of the faculty, staff and Brothers of Holy Cross to wish you all a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year. Christmas vacation will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 19, and
school will resume for students on Wednesday, January 7, 2015.
Thank you in advance to all of you who are able to contribute to the faculty gift fund. This is always a huge
success and appreciated by our wonderful faculty and staff.
It’s hard to believe we are close to finals and the Christmas Holidays. This letter includes December and
January news. Please take a moment to read it during this busy time.
God bless you all.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Connelly
Principal
Collegiate Athletic Recruiting Seminar
Freshman, sophomore and junior student-athletes and their parents are invited to hear about college
recruitment of athletes from noted speaker Jack Renkens on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. in the Lecture
Hall. Mr. Renkens has presented more than 3,000 seminars at conferences for athletic directors, Nike basketball
and football clinics, college financial planning groups and high schools from coast to coast.
Mr. Renkens’ seminar, Recruiting Realities, was developed to provide student-athletes and their families with an
educational resource about the collegiate athletic recruiting process, including evaluation by coaches,
scholarships and exposure in the college recruiting pools. The necessity for marketing by players not rated in
the top 500 in their sport or position will be discussed, as well as the reality that there are thousands of
scholarships and various forms of need and merit-based financial aid available.
Choosing a college is difficult enough without the pressure of recruiters. Whether you are highly recruited,
moderately recruited or not being recruited at all, Recruiting Realities will provide you with information
pertinent to your situation and to an eventual college choice.
Attention Senior Parents: Last Chance for Yearbook Ads
Friday, December 5, 2014 is the last day to turn in your commemorative yearbook ad for your graduating
senior. All ads, contracts, and payments are due on that date. If you miss the deadline, we may not be unable to
accommodate your ad. Ads, contracts, and payments can be dropped off at the Main Office or mailed to the
school address to the attention of Sabrina Landinguin or “Yearbook.” If you are paying for the ad using a
credit card, you must contact the Business Office directly.
The bulletin describing the process for submitting senior ads is attached to this newsletter or available for
download from the NDHS website. If you cannot access the attachment or the website, please e-mail Sabrina
Landinguin at landinguin@ndhs.org and she will send you a digital copy immediately. If you have further
questions, please call Mrs. Landinguin at (818) 933-3652.
Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
Parents and students are reminded to be cautious when walking and driving on and around campus. Please
drive slowly and be patient and courteous. We are especially aware of pedestrian safety and encourage caution
when crossing the busy intersections near campus. We are advised by police that there will be periods of very
active law enforcement that will result in citations issued for speeding, jaywalking and illegal left turns out of
our main lot.
Please also be mindful that Notre Dame High School is surrounded by residential areas and Notre Dame
desires to be a good neighbor to local residents who experience significant parking and traffic near their homes.
Always be respectful of our neighbors and empathetic about the effect of our traffic on them. Parents, please
discuss traffic safety with your students in support of the announcements students receive at school.
Mock Trial
This year’s Mock Trial team finished as one of the top 17 teams in Los Angeles County. They defeated their
opponents in the first two rounds, advancing to playoffs, where they earned a perfect team score of 10. Pretrial attorney Brianna Tanusi earned perfect scores in both of her rounds. Trial attorneys Danielle Drake and
Emma Fitzgerald gave standout performances with several perfect scores. Blake Wagner earned perfect scores
as the bailiff in both rounds. Witnesses Gianna Emma and Joelle Ibrahim also earned perfect scores for their
performances. Congratulations also to Aubree Auginaga, Cara Brodbin, Diana Chavando, Nia Naval, Quinn
Porter, Sophie Richardson and Davis Robinson for commendable work. Go Legal Knights!
…and next month at the Cathedral
The Notre Dame Concert Choir and Chevalier will collaborate with the famous Catholic ensemble Shantigarh
and the St. John Eudes Adult Choir in the presentation of the Shantigarh Requiem for the Unborn at Cathedral of
Our Lady of the Angels on Saturday, January 18 at 6 p.m. The Requiem is an original composition by our former
choir director, John Bonaduce, who will also conduct at this annual Archdiocesan Respect Life Mass.
ACADEMIC BULLETIN
Final Exam Schedule
Final exams will be given in all classes during the week of December 15. Final exams are organized by classperiod and given in the regular classroom. Students are required to take finals at the time noted on the schedule
below. It is important for students to be present for exams. Make-up exams are provided only in the case of
serious illness.
All students need to be in class for all finals, including PE and athletic team classes. The only exception is
seniors who have no fourth period class and do not need to be on campus during the scheduled fourth period
exam.
*Students approved for extended time will test in the gym. These students will be dismissed as they finish their
exams, but not earlier than the regular exam schedule and not later than 12:10 p.m.
During finals week, the school library will be open from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday and will be closed on Thursday and Friday.
DATE
Monday, December 15
Library open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 16
Library open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, December 17
Library open 7 a.m. – 4 PM
Thursday, December 18
Library closed
Friday, December 19
Library closed
TIME
7:40 a.m.
7:45 – 7:50 a.m.
7:50 – 9:20 a.m.
9:20 – 9:35 a.m.
9:35 – 9:40 a.m.
9:40 – 11:10 a.m.
7:40 a.m.
7:45 – 7:50 a.m.
7:50 – 9:20 a.m.
9:20 – 9:35 a.m.
9:35 – 9:40 a.m.
9:40 – 11:10 a.m.
7:40 a.m.
7:45 – 7:50 a.m.
7:50 – 9:20 a.m.
9:20 – 9:35 a.m.
9:35 – 9:40 a.m.
9:40 – 11:10 a.m.
7:40 a.m.
7:45 – 7:50 a.m.
7:50 – 9:20 a.m.
9:20 a.m.
9:40 – Varies
7:40 – 11:00 a.m.
SCHEDULE
Warning bell
PPA
Period 1 Exam
Nutrition Break
Passing
Period 2 Exam
Warning bell
PPA
Period 5 Exam
Nutrition Break
Passing
Period 6 Exam
Warning bell
PPA
Period 3 Exam
Nutrition Break
Passing
Period 7 Exam
Warning bell
PPA
Period 4 Exam
Dismissal
Make-Up Exams – All students in Room 62
Christmas Spirit Day
First Semester Grades to be Posted January 6
Final grades for first semester will be posted to Blackboard by the end of day on Tuesday, January 6. According
to the NDHS Student-Parent Handbook (p. 3), “Any questions or disputes regarding grades must be brought to
the attention of the school administration as soon as possible, but no later than within 14 calendar days of the
date that grade verifications are submitted by the teachers. After that date, grades will be considered final and
permanently recorded.” Based on this year’s calendar, the deadline for any questions or disputes regarding first
semester grades is Tuesday, January 20.
Semester grades are final grades and are part of the student’s permanent Notre Dame cumulative record.
Students who earn a grade of D or F at the semester will need to plan to attend summer to retain eligibility for
college admissions and/or to continue to attend Notre Dame High School. Senior students earning an F in any
class will be ineligible to receive their high school diploma until the failing grade has been remediated. In
addition, students with GPA’s below 2.0 at the semester may be declared ineligible to participate in school
activities. See the Student-Parent Handbook for grading policies (p. 2-7)
Second Semester Schedule Change Request Process
Second semester will begin when we return from Christmas break on January 7. As the new semester begins,
there is a brief opportunity for students to request schedule changes that involve semester-long elective classes.
Full-year classes cannot be changed or dropped, and schedule changes will not be made based on preferences for specific teachers or
class periods. Please note that at this point in the school year many classes are full, so it may not be possible to
grant a request. Schedule change request forms will be available in the Counseling Office beginning Monday,
December 15. The last day that schedule change requests will be accepted is Monday, January 12. There is a
$20 fee for each class that is changed.
Course Selection for the 2015 – 2016 School Year
During the first two weeks of February, the counselors are scheduled to be in the freshman, sophomore and
junior English classrooms with instructions regarding course selection for the 2015-2016 school year. Students
will be given a course selection form, course catalogue, and other information to guide them in in the process
of choosing next year’s classes. Some honors and AP courses require the students to take a qualifying test prior
to requesting the course. Only students intending to request consideration of placement into honors/AP
classes need to test. Contact your teacher, counselor or department chair if you have questions.
By February 17, please make sure you and your child have discussed next year’s course selection and that you
have signed the course request form. During the last two weeks of February, the counselors will provide
individual course selection counseling for students in religious studies classrooms and collect registration
forms. Students are required to have their signed course selection form at that time. If you have any questions
about your child’s courses, please contact your student’s counselor after the materials have been distributed.
Qualifying Tests for 2015 – 2016 Honors and Advanced Placement Courses
To qualify for enrollment in honors and Advanced Placement classes for the 2015-16 school year, some
students will be required to take a qualifying/placement test. You may or may not need to test depending on
your grades in current and previous classes and which class you wish to take next year. In general, students who
are currently in college-prep level courses and wish to enroll in an honors or AP course will need to test. There
are also some honors/AP classes for which all students are required to take a qualifying test, and others in
which no test is given and placement is based on grades and teacher recommendations. Prerequisite grades and
other requirements for specific courses are detailed in the NDHS Course Catalogue. Information about testing
will be communicated to students in January through the ND website, in classrooms, in the morning
announcements, and signs posted on campus. Testing is done before counselors discuss course requests with
students, so students need to begin thinking now about next year’s courses. Questions about the testing process
should be directed to the appropriate counselor and/or department chairperson. honors/AP
qualifying/placement tests will be given in January as follows, testing rooms TBA.
Date
Time
Exam(s)
1/21/2015 1:30 p.m.
Honors and AP Spanish Placement
1/22/2015 3:05 p.m.
AP Government/AP Economics Placement
1/27/2015 1:30 p.m.
Honors and AP Mathematics Placement
1/27/2015 3:05 p.m.
AP Government/AP Economics Make-up Exam
2/10/2015 1:30 p.m.
Honors and AP Mathematics Make-up Exam
2/12/2015 1:30 p.m.
Honors and AP Spanish Make-up Exam
ENGLISH: No separate exam. Placement based on previous coursework and
grades, first semester grades, teacher recommendations and writing sample
essay that will be completed in the classroom.
SCIENCE: No separate exam. Placement based on previous coursework in
science and math taken and semester grades earned, first semester grades and
teacher recommendations. See course catalog for details.
Department Chair
Marie Madden
Shannon Kobielusz
Joe Spelta
Shannon Kobielusz
Joe Spelta
Marie Madden
Sara Hinds
Shannon Genova
SAT Prep at NDHS with Princeton Review –Discount With Promo Code
Preparation for the March 14 SAT Exam
Notre Dame is partnering with Princeton Review to offer a series of SAT prep classes which will be held on
the Notre Dame campus. The classes are timed to prepare students for the March, 2015 administration of the
SAT. Princeton Review is offering Notre Dame students a discounted price of $599 for the course (Use Promo
Code NDHS1415 for a discount off the listed price of $699). Online registration at www.PrincetonReview.com
must be completed no later than Tuesday, January 13, 2015.
Course features:
• 18 hours of classroom instruction with an expert Princeton Review teacher
• three full-length, proctored practice tests with detailed score reports to help you assess your strengths
and weaknesses
• 24/7 online access to both SAT and ACT content featuring video lessons covering all the concepts
tested, drills, additional practice tests and exclusive test-taking strategies.
Students must register separately at www.collegeboard.com for the official administration of SAT exam on
March 14, 2015. The registration deadline is February 13, 2015 with late registration (late fee applies) allowed
online through March 3. The schedule leading up to the March 14 SAT exam is as follows:
Saturday
January 17
1:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Full-Length Practice Test
Tuesday
January 20
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Class
Monday
January 26
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Class
Monday
February 3
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Class
Saturday
February 1
1:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Practice Test
Monday
February 9
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Class
Tuesday
February 17
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Class
Monday
February 23
5:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Practice Test
Saturday
February 28
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Class
Register for the class online at www.PrincetonReview.com or by phone at 800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439).
Please contact Princeton Review at (888) 223-7737 x 1002 with any questions. Remember to use Promo Code
NDHS1415 to receive the discounted price. The registration deadline is Tuesday, January 13, 2015.
Blackboard for Grades and Class Information
Notre Dame teachers use Blackboard to manage student grades, course content, assignment submission,
testing, class announcements, etc. Students and parents should use Blackboard frequently as a tool for
academic monitoring and success. We hope you are making use of Blackboard as a great tool to help monitor
and support student academic success. Blackboard can be accessed through the QUICKLINKS button on the
homepage at www.ndhs.org, by going directly to ndhs.blackboard.com, or through the app you can download
to your smart phone or IPAD. If you need assistance or are experiencing any issues with Blackboard, please email parentsupport@ndhs.org. As always, if you have questions regarding a specific course, please contact the
teacher directly.
NEWS from the COUNSELING OFFICE
The Financial Aid for College Workshop
Parents of seniors are invited to attend a Financial Aid Workshop on Monday, January 12 from 7 - 9 p.m. in
the Lecture Hall. Financial Aid Officer Dennis Schroeder will guide us through the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid. FAFSA publications will be available for attendees. To be considered for financial aid in
college, the FAFSA must be completed no earlier than January 1 and no later than March 2. You may file online through www.fafsa.ed.gov after first registering for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. Contact counselor Joan
Canzone at (818) 933-3646 or Teresa Fitzsimmons at (818) 933-3642 with questions.
Please be advised that the official FAFSA website is www.fafsa.ed.gov which will allow you to submit your
FAFSA application free of charge. The www.fafsa.com website is not affiliated with the Department of
Education and you will be charged unnecessary fees.
The college and university codes requested on the FAFSA are not the same codes used for the SAT or ACT
registration. FAFSA codes are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Frequently-Asked-Questions Session for Senior Parents
Senior parents are invited to join senior counselors Joan Canzone and Teresa Fitzsimmons in the Holy Cross
Center on Wednesday, December 10 from 8 - 9 a.m. for coffee, conversation, and Christmas cheer. The
January FAQ’s will be on Wednesday, January 28. If you are a senior parent and you have questions about
senior year, applications, financial aid, and more, please plan to attend these informative get-togethers.
CAL Grants
Notre Dame High School submits Cal Grant applications electronically. This means that the only form your
student needs to complete to apply for a Cal Grant is the Cal Grant GPA Information Release Form that will
be distributed to seniors the week of January 20 during English classes. This simple form gives Notre Dame
permission to release your student’s Cal Grant GPA and social security number to the California Student Aid
Commission. This form requires both a parent signature and a student signature. The signed forms are due
back to their senior counselor by Friday, January 30, 2015. Please contact Joan Canzone at canzone@ndhs.org
with any questions. Remember, students will not be considered for a Cal Grant unless they also complete the
FAFSA.
Q & A Morning Meeting for Junior Parents
Junior parents are invited to the Holy Cross Center Reading Room on Monday, December 8 from 8-9 a.m.
Counselors will be available for discussion and questions regarding junior year and the college search process.
Information regarding SAT and ACT testing schedules, preparation, and organizing the college search will be
addressed. Coffee and treats will be served.
SAT and ACT Dates
Juniors should be planning now for college admissions testing. (See the “SAT Prep” section above for
information about a SAT test preparation class here at ND.) Please remember that PrepMe is available to all
students on their Naviance home page. Upcoming dates for the SAT and ACT tests are as follows:
S
A
T
TEST DATE
REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
LATE REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
January 24
December 29
January 13
March 14
February 13
March 3
May 2
April 6
April 21
June 6
A
C
T
May 8
Register at www.collegeboard.com/mysat
May 27
TEST DATE
REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
LATE REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
February 7
January 9
January 10-16
April 18
March 13
March 14-27
June 13
May 8
Register at www.actstudent.org
May 9-22
Extended Time for Finals
Although, Notre Dame does not offer classes or instruction to meet the needs of students with special
educational requirements, we do have the ability to offer extra time on semester exams if a student has special
educational needs documented by a certified professional evaluator. An extended time final exam schedule must be
arranged through Danielle Burness in the counseling office at burness@ndhs.org. For first semester exams,
documents need to be submitted on or before Friday, December 5, 2014. There are no exceptions.
Arrangements for extended time cannot be made with individual teachers. Please direct your questions and
concerns to Mrs. Burness.
NEWS from the BUSINESS OFFICE
Important Message about Tuition
All tuition accounts must be current prior to the start of second semester, which is January 7, 2015. As such,
please be sure your account is up-to-date as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please consult the
Student-Parent Handbook which can be found at our website or contact Joyce Pruitt in the tuition office at (818)
933-3613.
Financial Aid Information
Notre Dame High School will once again utilize Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS) to conduct financial need
assessments for families who might require help paying tuition for the 2014-2015 school year. The application
process is confidential and need-based. You may contact TADS for help completing the application or to
check the status of your application. The application deadline for returning students is March 31, 2015, and
award notices will be mailed in early May. Awards are granted on an annual basis so anyone interested in
receiving assistance for 2015-2016 will need to apply regardless of whether or not an award was received in
prior years. Incomplete applications at the due date may not be reviewable so please begin the process well in
advance. The contact information for TADS is as follows:
1201 Hawthorne Ave., Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (800) 477-8237, Fax: (612) 548-3326
E-mail: info@tads.com, www.tads.com
NDHS School ID: 05313
NEWS from the DEANS’ OFFICE
We would like to remind our young ladies that there are two models of skorts and a pleated skirt available at
Mills Uniform Company. There is also a model that has more length for the taller girls. We ask that parents to
help us out by checking the length of their daughter’s skirts and skorts and make adjustments if they have
gotten too short.
We would also recommend you have at least one pair of uniform pants available. If we deem the skirt/skort
too short, the student will be required to wear pants.
The cooler weather means that more sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets are being worn. The sweatshirts must be
Notre Dame issued. Solid colored sweatshirts are not part of the uniform. Navy blue sweaters purchased from
Mills or a school activity may be worn. Jackets must be solid navy blue, black, white, gray or brown. No denim,
flannel, leather, plaid or fur allowed. Refer to page 23 of the handbook for any clarifications needed.
Girls who choose to wear tights must wear solid white, navy blue or black tights that are in good condition, with
no rips or holes. Beanies, scarves, knit hats, ear muffs, and other accessories are not to be worn during the
school day. We may make some exceptions if extreme weather conditions occur, but that is only if we make the
determination and announce it to the students.
Students may not use or check their phones during the school day. We ask parents to call the Attendance
Office if they need to contact their student during the day. You don’t want to be the one causing your student
to receive a detention.
Thank you again for all you do in supporting the mission of the school.
NEWS from the LIBRARY
In addition to the online databases provided by the library, students now have access to a program called
Noodle Tools. Students can use Noodle Tools when they need assistance creating citations for a research paper
or project. The program is user friendly, and it provides detailed guidelines for citing a variety of sources in
MLA format. Students should come by the library to create individual user accounts.
Also, just a reminder that all books borrowed from the library will be due by 11 a.m. on December 19. The fine
for each overdue book is 10 cents a day. Please e-mail Ginger Holloway at holloway@ndhs.org if you have any
questions.
NEWS from DEBATE
Knights Debate continues its successful season.
ND Debate was champions of the Long Beach
Debate Tournament for second year in a row. The
team of Harry Aaronson '15 and Ryan Powell '16
beat Green Valley High School (Nevada) in the
finals of the tournament. Harry and Aron earned
their first bid to the Tournament of Champions
this year. Vivienne Pismarov '15 and Zane Dille '16
also placed in the elite eight teams. Harry
Aaronson won ninth speaker overall.
ND debate garnered some hard-fought victories at
the St. Mark’s tournament in Dallas, one of the
most prestigious tournaments in the country.
Aaronson and Powell finished in the top 16 teams
in the competition, finishing as second seed overall
after preliminary rounds and winning their second
bid to the Tournament of Champions. Pismarov
and Dille finished in the top 32. Harry Aaronson
won eighth speaker and Ryan Powell was awarded
10th speaker overall out of approximately 150
students. In the Sophomore Round Robin, Jax
Rounds '17 and Mason Peeples '18 fought hard
amongst some of the top sophomore teams in the
country.
At the Meadows tournament in Las Vegas, ND
placed in the final four. Harry Aaronson and
Mason Peeples '18 lost in semifinals after several
impressive wins. They were awarded another bid to
the Tournament of Champions. Harry also won
top speaker at the tournament.
At the USC Round Robin, the team of Pismarov
and Dille finished third overall in their competitive
pod, missing being in finals by two ballots.
Vivienne Pismarov was also eighth speaker overall
in the elite competition.
In November, ND Debate was victorious at the
Damien Tournament. In varsity, Jack Carty '16 and
June Choe '16 finished second overall in the varsity
division and Peter Smith '18 and Daniel Cielak '18
were second overall in the novice division. Priya
Joshi and Lawrence Kim also placed in the top
four in the novice division. The team also won
several speaker awards. In novice, Peter Smith won
second speaker, Dillon Casali won sixth speaker,
Elliott McMillan won eighth speaker, and Daniel
Cielak won 10th speaker. In varsity, June Choe
won third speaker and Jack Carty won fifth
speaker.
ND Debate also hosted the Second Annual Damus
Hollywood Invitational in November. The event
was a huge success thanks to David Damus '83,
who donated all of the entry fees, and the debate
parents (and grandparents) who provided all of the
hospitality for the 300 competitors, coaches, and
judges at Notre Dame. A special thanks to lead
parents Ameann DeJohn (parent of alumnus Ken
DeJohn) and Michele Knapp (parent of senior
Mikayla Rae Garvin) who coordinated the
hospitality. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive
from many schools that represented nine different
states. The Third Annual Damus Hollywood
Invitational is set for next November.
From now until the end of January, Knights
Debate will travel to the Glenbrooks Tournament
in Chicago, the Alta Tournament in Salt Lake City,
the Blake Tournament in Minneapolis, the
Southern Bell Forum at Montgomery Bell
Academy in Nashville, and the Barkley Forum held
at Emory University in Atlanta.
NEWS from the CAMPUS MINISTRY OFFICE
Liturgies
On Friday, December 5, a First Friday Mass will be
offered in the St. Joseph Chapel at 7 a.m. Fr. Mike
Wakefield of St. Frances De Sales Church will be
the celebrant. Parents and students are welcome to
join faculty and staff in the celebration of the
Eucharist.
Monday, December 8 is the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception and a holy day of
obligation. The doctrine of the Immaculate
Conception dates back to the fourth century AD
following the Council of Nicea. Many Catholic
bishops and theologians debated how Mary could
have conceived Jesus, the Son of God, if she
herself had been born of human parents. The
doctrine began to take shape that Mary herself had
been born without the stain of original sin, and has
been celebrated as such to the present. Fr. Mike
Wakefield will be our celebrant for Mass at 9:25
a.m. Families are always welcome.
Register Now for Youth Day
Mary Kay Munroe, Vera de Artola, Reese Hatcher
and other faculty members will take a group of
students to Youth Day at the Religious Education
Congress on Thursday, March 12, 2015. We will
also celebrate together with pizza and prayer one
afternoon or evening the week prior to Youth Day.
On March 12, students will enjoy a full day of
music, reflection, prayer, fun, and enrichment with
high school students from all over California. Last
year we shared a lunch with our sister school, St.
Francis, Mountain View.
Youth Day itself takes place at the Anaheim
Convention Center, and this year’s theme is Talk
Jesus with Me! Parents and students who have
questions about Youth Day or the Congress itself
may e-mail Ms. Munroe at munroe@ndhs.org,
check out ND 60 on the Notre Dame website, as
well as the Congress website at
www.RECongress.org/YouthDay, where you can
look at pictures and videos from last year’s event,
download the theme song and keep up with the
latest announcements for Congress 2015. You can
also follow your favorite Youth Day speakers
through the app.
All Notre Dame Students are invited and
encouraged to attend. See Ms. Munroe in Room 52
for a permission slip. REGISTRATION
SHOULD BE COMPLETE WITH MS.
MUNROE PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS BREAK.
We may not be able to process late registrations.
Last year, several students asked to attend at the
last minute and we could not accommodate them.
Frosh Friendship Retreat
All freshmen will attend a one day retreat led by Senior Christian Leaders in January and February. The focus is
on building friendships with one another and with God. Students will be transported by bus from ND to the
Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino. Free dress, in accordance with the school handbook is permitted. Lunch
and supplies will be provided. Please inform the Campus Ministry Office if there are any dietary restrictions
that need attention. Retreat dates are determined alphabetically by last name as follows:
Tuesday, January 20
Wednesday, January 21
Thursday, January 22
Tuesday, January 27
Wednesday, January 28
Thursday, January 29
Adorni-Mindel – Chicote
Cho – Gonzalez
Goodman – Lagos
Laguardia – Olguin
Omoregie – Singleton
Skarpelos – Zill
Retreat dates may be changed if a student has a game on the same day as retreat. Information and permission
slips will be distributed in religion classes. Please call Reese Abbene-Ingino in Campus Ministry with questions.
Christmas Prayer Service
On Friday, December 19, the Christian Leadership Class and ND Choir will create a prayer service for all
students to remind us all of the reason for the season. This will be not be a formal liturgy, but rather an
opportunity to come together as a family to pray, reflect and join in the joyous seasonal music of Christmas.
Senior Kairos Retreat
The November Kairos was an amazing experience for all who attended. Retreatants are encouraged to continue
to live their retreat by continuing to participate in Campus Ministry events. Kairos 62 will be January 13-16,
2015 at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre. Please keep the students and faculty
members in your prayers as they journey together to strengthen their relationships with themselves, each other
and God. There are still openings for the February and April retreats. Seniors and their parents can find the
registration form on Naviance and Blackboard. Applications to lead a future Kairos may be found in the
Campus Ministry Office. For more information please contact Joanna Cecilio at (818) 933-3663 or via e-mail at
cecilio@ndhs.org.
The remaining Kairos Retreats for the year are:
January 13-16, 2015
February 24-27, 2015
March 24-27, 2015
NEWS from the CH RISTIAN SERVICE OFFICE
All forms and information about Christian Service may be found on the school website. Be sure all forms are
filled out properly. At the end of the packet there is a check list of what needs to be done.
A few reminders: parents or other family members may not be the student’s supervisor after the freshman year.
All service performed outside the greater Los Angeles area must be approved by Roger De Silva before they are
started. Senior service choices must be approved by Mr. De Silva before they are started. Students are not to be
doing the same service more than one year unless discussed with and approved by Mr. De Silva.
Christian Service due dates are the following:
Freshman: Friday, February 6, 2015
Sophomores: Friday, February 20, 2015
Juniors: Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Seniors: Tuesday, April 14, 2015
NEWS from the CAFETERIA
Students may activate and utilize their pre-paid lunch accounts at any time during the school year. Checks
written for lunch accounts must be made payable to Hanna-Que, Inc. and not Notre Dame High School.
Please activate accounts and make deposits before and after school and not during nutrition or lunch when we
are very busy. Credit card deposits may be made in person in the cafeteria or through www.EZSchoolPay.com,
which will alert you when you have a low balance and allow you to see the history of purchases. Thank you
again for the active participation in the pre-paid lunch program which keeps our lunch lines moving quickly
and efficiently.
NEWS from the ATH LETIC DEPARTMENT
Christmas Tree and Holiday Wreath Pick-Up Info
The trees and wreaths you ordered in support of Athletic Boosters will be available for pickup on Saturday,
December 6 near the baseball area from 8 a.m. – noon. Be ready for a special treat as you enter our Winter
Wonderland from the Riverside Drive entrance. We will have complimentary hot beverages and sweets as you
select your tree and listen to Christmas carols performed by our ND Choir. In addition, for your last minute
shopping needs, we will have available for purchase Notre Dame athletic wear and hand-crafted Christmas
ornaments. As a special treat, you will also have the opportunity to purchase a “Dinner to Go!” so that you
have the afternoon free to trim your tree with your family. See attached flyer. Remember to bring along your
recyclables…. we will have bins available for drop off.
The players, coaches and staff for all of our sports programs thank the Notre Dame community for its support
of the Christmas tree and holiday wreath fundraiser. With your help, we sold 175 trees and over 250 wreaths
and we will have a limited supply of Noble fir trees and wreaths available for purchase that day. Whether or not
you purchased a tree or wreath, we invite you to come by and share the holiday spirit with us at this special
event. Call Paula Sheehan in the Athletic Office (818) 933-3661 with questions.
Fall Sports Awards
All parents and athletes of Notre Dame fall sports are invited to the sports awards ceremony on Monday,
December 8 at 6:30 p.m. An invitation will be sent via e-mail using Punchbowl, a web invitation site. Please
check your spam folder if you haven’t received it. Awards will be presented to athletes who participated in
football, cross country, boys’ water polo, girls tennis, girls volleyball, girls golf and cheerleading. All fall athletes
are expected to attend. Please contact the Athletic Office if you have any questions at (818) 933-3661.
FALL 2014 WRAP-UP
Boys Cross Country
Notre Dame's 2014 team has been blessed by a large turnout of new and eager runners. The squad has grown
to over fifty harriers and continues to rise through the Div. 4 rankings.
The boys team lead by Kristian Ruegg, Brennan Lagerstrom, (First Team All Mission League), and Enzo
Wright won the Cal Poly Invitational, placed third at the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational and qualified for CIF
Southern Section Prelims. They are ranked 11th going into the championship meets. Their future is bright with
only one senior in the top five and freshman Ryan Armstrong scoring consistently. The boys Running Knights
will be even better next year with all the experience they gained in this campaign.
Girls Cross Country
The Lady Running Knights are very young and good. Led by Mariah Moro, Elizabeth Coda, and Juliette
Fedoroff (All First Team Mission League) they have been ranked as high as fourth in the CIF Southern
Section. With a second place finish at the Cal Poly Invitational, fourth at Mt. Sac and second at the Mission
League Finals, they qualified for CIF for an unprecedented ninth year in a row. Of the top seven runners, three
are freshmen and when Audrey Ellias (the school record holder at Mt. Sac) returns from a season-ending injury
next year, the ladies will be one of the best teams in the State.
Girls Tennis
The 2014 Girls Varsity Tennis Team had a fantastic season, finishing second in the Mission League with a
record of 6-2. The Knights had strong wins over Marlborough and Marymount and came within two matches
twice of beating Harvard Westlake. In the Mission League Individuals the singles had a great showing. Lauren
Sandifer finished in third place and freshmen Avery Aude won the tournament. Avery will now move on to the
State Regionals at the end of November.
Football
The Varsity Football Team finished the season with record of 6-4, having played one of the toughest schedules
in the state of California. The Knights finished the regular season ranked 24th in the state by MaxPreps and
25th in the state by CalHi Sports. The Knights fought through many injuries and had several exhilarating last
minute victories. The season had many highlights including:
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A 70-34 victory over perennial South Bay powerhouse Mira Costa High School
A 56-6 defeat of West Valley League Champion Birmingham High School
A 24-14 victory over Serra High School of San Mateo, the defending Central Coast Section Champion
An exciting last minute victory over Oaks Christian, 37-31
A thrilling come from behind defeat of Chaminade, 41-38
A last minute 28-21 victory over Loyola
Boys Water Polo
The Notre Dame water polo team opened up their inaugural season in their new facility with great success. The
Water Polo Knights had several big wins against highly ranked opponents in other divisions including Glendale
and Flintridge prep. The Knights clinched a CIF Div. 1 berth after a dominating 17 to 7 win over Crespi. The
Knights success continued into the Div. 1 playoffs with a 10 - 3 win over Thousand Oaks in the wild card
round. A tough loss to powerhouse Corona Del Mar in the next round ended the Knights’ CIF run. The boys
water polo team finished the year with a 16-12 record. With a young core of players the water polo program is
looking forward to a bright future.
Girls Varsity Volleyball
The Lady Knights entered into the very tough Mission League and battled all the way through to a third place
finish, allowing the knights to qualify for playoffs. League victories include a five-game nail biter, comeback win
at Marlborough for their Senior Night, as well as a four game victory over our league rival Harvard Westlake.
We enjoyed another great Dig Pink Event this year against Marymount and another five-game match. Entering
into playoffs we had a tough draw against Mira Costa in Division 1AA where the Knights just came up short in
a five-game loss. The Lady Knights look forward to reloading for the 2015 season.
Girls Varsity Golf
As the 2014 girls golf season comes to an end, there is much to be proud of. The seven returning players,
Lauren Crittenden, Kathryn Newton, Sammy Winchester, Janet Yeo, Alyssa Buzzello, Paige Hollingsworth, and
sophomore Kennedy Menifield welcomed freshmen Stephanie Ahn and Bernadine Corpin to the team.
Our four seniors, Lauren, Kathryn, Sammy and Janet have made a big impact on the program since the minute
they tried out in the spring of 2011. They were instrumental in three league championships, two CIF
championships, several tournament wins and one league MVP, Sammy Winchester in 2013.
Our goal this season was to go undefeated in the Mission League (for the 12th time in 13 years) and win the
CIF Northern Division Championship for the third time. It started with off-season conditioning last
winter/spring, boot camp in the summer, traveling to tournaments, and countless hours of practice on the
range. It all paid off: League Champs, CIF Champs and League MVP (Janet Yeo).
There were exceptional individual performances on a daily basis throughout the season. It might have been a
freshman working with a teammate to learn the subtleties of team competition—walking together, putting bags
next to each other, giving an encouraging comment after a missed putt. Besides winning the league MVP, Janet
Yeo persevered through a 9-hole play-off to qualify for the CIF Individual competition. Sammy Winchester
and Kathryn Newton qualified for this event as well. At the CIF Team competition, Lauren Crittenden had her
best personal score of the year. Oaks Christian was our main competition and we knew Lauren’s score would
be key.
As we look ahead, juniors Alyssa Buzzello and Paige Hollingsworth are ready to step into leadership roles to
continue the “team” emphasis of the game of golf. We don’t take all the success we have had lightly. We know
it couldn’t have been accomplished without the support of parents and teachers. We are thankful for all the
support of the entire ND community.
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Mission League Champions – 12th time in 13 years, undefeated the last six years
Mission League MVP – Janet Yeo '15
CIF Northern Division Champions – third time in four years
Three girls qualified for CIF individual finals (Janet Yeo, Sammy Winchester, Kathryn Newton)
NEWS from the ART DEPARTMENT
The art Gallery at CSUN is hosting the 18th annual High School Art Exhibit. This popular event will open
January 12th and run through January 31st. Six students from ND will be selected to participate. Stay tuned for
information and names.
The reception for the artists is at the close of the exhibit on January 30th from 7-9 p.m. There will be live
music, snacks, and an open studio tour of the college art department during the evening. Please join the artists
for this wonderful evening celebrating the arts.
NEWS from the COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
Professionals Visit TV Classes
Screenwriter Richard Hatem visited TV I to share with students his experiences and how much fun it is to
work as a writer. Mr. Hatem has worked on The Mothman Prophecies, Miracles, The Dead Zone, and other projects.
Costume designer Billy Ray McKenna spoke to students about breaking into the business, how to become a
costume designer and the importance of finding a career that you enjoy. Mr. McKenna has worked on “Rizzoli
& Isles,” “Teen Wolf” and other projects.
Actress Denise Boutté spoke to TV III and NDTV about acting in front of the camera. Mrs. Boutté’s resume
includes guest and recurring roles on several popular TV shows, including “Boston Legal,” “Everybody Hates
Chris,” “Days of Our Lives” and “Girlfriends.” On the big screen, Denise teamed up with entertainment
pioneer Tyler Perry, to work alongside Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Richard T. Jones and the star-studded cast of
Lionsgate’s Why Did I Get Married. Impressed with her on-camera presence, Perry created the character of Sasha
Brown for her on the now-syndicated TV series “Meet the Browns.”
For speaker info and photos visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NotreDameHighSchoolTelevision.
If you have missed NDTV and you want to see it, please visit www.ndhs.org, go to the STUDENT LIFE section
and click NDTV.
The Knight News Blog
This year, The Knight Magazine, Notre Dame’s own student publication, has a news blog, where we post articles
and photos on many topics, ranging from Notre Dame High School itself to sports and other student interests.
To visit the Knight News Blog, please visit www.ndhsmedia.com.
NEWS from the IRISH KNIGH T BAND
Band Represents ND throughout
Southern California
In addition to its appearances at all ND varsity
football games, our band has been busy
representing ND in band reviews and parades on
Saturday mornings. In October the Irish Knight
Band appeared in the Tustin Tiller Days Parade,
the Riverside King Band Review, and the Loara
Band Review in Anaheim. The IKB once again
placed among the top bands in these reviews.
In November the Irish Knight Band appeared in
the La Palma Days Parade and Band Review. Then
the IKB competed in the Arcadia Festival of
Bands, which is the largest and most prestigious
high school band review in Southern California.
Congratulations to all of the members of the Irish
Knight Band and Dance Flag Team for
representing Notre Dame so well in front of
thousands of spectators at these events.
Local Performances
On Sunday December 7 the band will march in the
Granada Hills Christmas Parade. The parade starts
at 1:30 p.m. on Chatsworth Street at Balboa
Boulevard in Granada Hills. The parade route
heads west down Chatsworth Street and continues
south down Zelza Avenue ending at Granada Hills
High School. Come on out and cheer our Irish
Knight Band members as they represent ND in
this community event. On Sunday, January 25, the
band will march down Main Street in Disneyland
as part of the Disneyland Community Arts
Showcase. The performance time has not been
announced, but this is a great opportunity to visit
Disneyland during the holiday season and see our
IKB perform.
Bandcake Breakfast
This season the band reached its 528th consecutive
regular-season varsity football game appearance.
This is a tradition that extends back to the
beginning of the 1968 football season. Very
literally, neither snow, nor rain, nor sleet, nor bus
breakdowns has kept the band from reaching this
milestone. Congratulations to the members of the
band and tall flags on this outstanding
accomplishment.
Mark your calendars for the Band Booster's
traditional Bandcake Breakfast fundraiser on
Sunday, February 1, from 8 - 12 a.m. Tickets for
the breakfast will be available soon from all band
families, and admission includes performances by
the Notre Dame Jazz Band. You will also have the
opportunity to bid on some great gifts at a silent
auction during the event. More information will be
available after the holidays. We hope to have
another wonderful display of vintage automobiles
courtesy of the Model T Club of the San Fernando
Valley. This is your opportunity to show your
appreciation and support for our band
See’s Candy Fundraiser
Saturday Band Program
This holiday season the members of the IKB will
once again be selling See’s Candy to raise money
for the band program. Band members sell an
assortment of different items that make great
stocking stuffers or gifts for the same price that
you will find at your local See’s Candy store. Why
deal with the hassle of holiday parking and long
lines when you can help support the IKB? All
orders need to be in by December 1, so find a band
member or contact David. Borok
(borok@ndhs.org) to receive an order form and
place your order today.
Notre Dame’s Saturday Band Concert is quickly
approaching on December 20. The concert for the
Beginning and Squires Bane will be at 10 a.m. in
the ND cafeteria.
For 34 years Notre Dame High School has
sponsored a band program for grammar school
students, grades 4 through 8. Students learn to play
a band instrument in a one hour class lesson each
week. Two classes are offered, one for beginning
students and one for students who already play an
instrument. Call the Band Center for more
information on Saturday Band.
A Milestone for the IKB
NEWS from the ADVANCEMENT OFFICE
The President’s Club – Thanksgiving Blessings
“Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary
opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward
This month we are sending a message of thanks to all Presidents’ Club members for a fantastic year of support.
Your gifts are instrumental in improving our programs, providing financial assistance to deserving families and
improving our facilities. A special thanks to those who have chosen to renew their membership. We already
have approximately 100 members in the 2014-2015 President’s Club and we are looking to grow the club even
bigger than last year. If you are interested in becoming a President’s Club member, call our Major Gifts Officer,
Kathy Molloy, in the Advancement Office at (818) 933-3609 or e-mail her at molloy@ndhs.org. Wishing you
all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
Walkathon
It’s not too early to begin thinking about the 2015 Walkathon. The Fourth Annual Student Walkathon is just
around the corner, on Thursday, January 29. The purpose of this event is for Notre Dame Students to take an
active interest in seeking charitable support for their school, with the direct beneficiary being the student’s
team, program, sport, or club. We encourage students to seek support from friends, neighbors, businesses,
doctors, dentists, and other donors. A little help from grandparents and parents is also appreciated.
Walkathon solicitation forms are available now for early fundraising at www.ndhs.org/walkathon. Students are
encouraged to speak with their coaches, moderators, and teachers as to what the greatest need is for their
programs and start soliciting contributions now. Students are encouraged to generate at least $100 each for the
Walkathon. Student packets will be sent home in early December. These packets will include a letter and
Walkathon gift forms.
Thank you in advance for you and your student’s support and efforts for the Walkathon and all Notre Dame
fundraising activities. Please contact Susan Armendariz at (818) 933-3608 or armendariz@ndhs.org with your
questions or to donate.
Great Christmas Gift Ideas
Don’t forget the Notre Dame clothing store when you’re doing your Christmas shopping. Notre Dame
sweatshirts are a great gift for all family members. How about one for mom or dad? Our plush navy stadium
blankets are warm and cozy for the soccer season. We have ND ties in several different color combinations:
solid blue with gold interlocking ND, gold with navy interlocking NDs throughout the tie and a navy tie with
gold stripes and interlocking NDs. Please refer to the pictures on the website where you can order on-line at
the CLOTHING STORE tab, or come in to the Clothing Store on gold days. Contact Sue Wellman at (818) 9333605 or at wellman@ndhs.org with questions.
Family Holy Cross Mass & Pasta Dinner
Please mark your calendars for the Family Holy Cross Mass and Dinner, on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 5
p.m. We welcome families of all faiths to come together in celebration of the Notre Dame community for a
family Mass followed by a spaghetti dinner.
HCMG Luncheon, Auction & Fashion Show
Forty Fabulous Knights, Four Decades of Fun
Mark your calendars for the Holy Cross Mothers Guild’s 40th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show at
the Sheraton Universal on Saturday, April 18 2015. Get ready to celebrate our ruby anniversary with four
decades of fashion, faith community, and fun as Guild parents and Notre Dame students present this year's
theme, Forty Fabulous Knights, Four Decades of Fun! Your donation to the Grand Raffle or Silent Auction will be
acknowledged in the program book, which is given to everyone who attends. The form for donations is
attached. For additional information, please contact Sue Wellman at wellman@ndhs.org or Chairwoman Kim
Muno at muno@ndhs.org.
NDHS eScrip and Reward Card Programs
Please join the NDHS eScrip Campaign. All you have to do is register your credit, debit and grocery cards and
Notre Dame starts to earn.
An e-mail was just sent to all current Von’s Club Members to renew for Notre Dame. Click on the link
provided in the e-mail……and you are renewed for another year. Those who have not yet registered please
visit www.escrip.com. Just register your Vons, Macy’s, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and
debit cards at www.escrip.com. The ND supporter identification is #140676703.
To register your Target Card or Target Visa please go to www.target.com, click on RED CARDS at the top; click
on TAKE CHARGE OF EDUCATION; click on ENROLL NOW; enter NDHS school id #2902; click on DESIGNATE
THIS SCHOOL; fill in your information and click DESIGNATE THIS SCHOOL.
For Ralphs customers, log on to www.ralphs.com, click SIGN IN or CREATE AN ACCOUNT. The NDHS npo is
83227. All families using the Ralph’s grocery card must re-register their card each September. This is free and
easy…please support Notre Dame.
On-line Magazine Drive
Please save your magazine subscription renewals and purchases for our On-Line Magazine Drive. Notre Dame
receives 50 percent of the price of all magazines ordered. To renew or purchase your favorite magazines: go to
gaschoolstore.com, click CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. If it’s your first time visiting the site, create a student
profile with our school store ID #2684033 to obtain your student’s ID and shop away. There is also a link on
the school website under the PARENTS section, click on MAGAZINE DRIVE.
29th Annual ND Scholarship Golf Tournament
Calling all golfing moms and dads…plan to join us on Monday May 11, 2015 at Robinson Ranch Golf course
in Santa Clarita for our 28th Annual NDHS Scholarship Golf Tournament. Bring your own foursome, or come
as a single or twosome and we will pair you up for this best-ball scramble. The entry fee is $250 per person,
which includes green fees and carts, range balls, lunch by In-N-Out Burger, drinks on the course, tee prizes and
a buffet dinner following the tournament. For further information, contact Jonathan Lee at jlee@ndhs.org or
Tracey Hughes at (818) 933-3611 or hughes@ndhs.org. We are also seeking sponsorships and raffle donations
now for this event. Invitations will be mailed to all current parents in late March.
IMPORTANT DATES
FALL CHORAL CONCERT
Saturday, November 22
WINTER WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS TREE & WREATH PICK-UP
Saturday, December 6
FINAL EXAMS
Monday, December 15: Periods 1 & 2, dismissal 11:10 a.m.
Tuesday, December 16: Periods 5 & 6, dismissal 11:10 a.m.
Wednesday, December 17: Periods 3 & 7, dismissal 11:10 a.m.
Thursday, December 18: Period 4 & make-up exams, dismissal 9:25 a.m.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT DAY, SCHOOL OUT AT 11 AM
Friday, December 19
CHRISTMAS BREAK FOR STUDENTS
December 22 - January 6
SCHOOL RESUMES FOR STUDENTS & OFFICES OPEN
Wednesday, January 7
FAFSA, FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP for COLLEGE
Monday, January 12
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BIRTHDAY
SCHOOL & OFFICES CLOSED
Monday, January 19
STUDENT WALKATHON
Thursday, January 29
BANDCAKE BREAKFAST
Sunday, February 1
PRESIDENTS’ DAY SCHOOL & OFFICES CLOSED
Monday, February 16
FAMILY MASS & DINNER
Saturday, February 21
HALL OF FAME
Saturday, March 14
EASTER BREAK FOR STUDENTS
Thursday, April 2 –Sunday, April 12
GRADUATION
Saturday, May 30