NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT

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Message From The Principal

February 16, 2010

Dear Alumnae, Parents, and Friends of Notre Dame High School,

St. Julie Billiart, the Foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and our school Foundress, described Catholic education as “uplifting, inspiring, a sharing in the teaching ministry of the Church, the most important work that can be done on earth.” My colleagues and I at Notre Dame, Belmont have inherited from St. Julie and her Sisters a wonderful legacy and an awesome responsibility - “Teach your students whatever is necessary to prepare them for life.” With our excellent faculty, staff, and administration, our committed Board of Directors, and our generous alumnae, parents, and friends, the tradition of Catholic college preparatory education for young women in the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur continues in great strength at Notre Dame, Belmont:

• 100% of the Class of 2009 are enrolled in colleges and universities throughout the country, and several of our graduates have received Honors at Entrance citations and a variety of academic scholarships.
• Our Advanced Placement Program offers our students college-level course opportunities in thirteen subject areas. Thirty-One Notre Dame students were named as Advanced Placement Scholars in 2009.
• Two members of the Class of 2009 were named National Merit Finalists, and three members earned Commended Student status.
• Three members of the Class of 2010 have been named Commended Students for their performance on the 2008 PSAT/NMSQT, and two others have been named National Hispanic Scholars by the College Board.
• Our strong commitment to the Visual and Performing Arts is beyond compare in this challenging economic climate. We continue to offer multiple levels of courses in Art, Sculpture, Chorus, Dance, Photography, Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Advanced Placement Art History, and Video Production, and our students participate with their peers from Junipero Serra and Mercy High Schools in outstanding fall and spring productions.
• Our commitment to the spiritual development and religious education of our students remains a critical priority as we dedicate highly qualified and faith-filled personnel to our Religious Studies and Campus Ministry programs in order “ to develop responsible young women of active faith, strong intellect, and Christian leadership” (Mission Statement).
• In our new Modified Block Schedule our young women are experiencing extended learning periods that enable their teachers to maximize student focus and retention in a less stressful learning environment which also includes opportunities for collaboration periods for Liturgies, activities, programs, and additional student-teacher contact during the school day.
• Our extracurricular, co-curricular, and athletic programs provide numerous opportunities for our young women to develop the important life skills of leadership, goal setting, teamwork, fair play, and cooperation.
• Our newly inaugurated Freshman Intensive Program supports incoming students who are benefitting from a focused learning environment for one block period in order to ensure their success in Notre Dame’s rigorous college preparatory program. Housed in the newly established St. Julie Billiart Center in Room 118, this innovative program will provide our very motivated students with all the skills necessary “to prepare them for life."

With your continued involvement and support, Notre Dame High School will embrace the future’s abundant promise with great enthusiasm, vision, and prayer in the spirit of St. Julie Billiart and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Together in this ever-widening ring of generosity of alumnae, alumnae parents, current parents, faculty, staff, friends, foundations, and corporations, we will continue to sustain a learning community whose hallmarks include caring, challenge, collaboration, and connection in the interest of developing our young women to their fullest potential and providing a moral context that will serve them well all of heir lives.

Sincerely,

Rita Gleason '66
Principal