News from Notre Dame High School

$50K from the Odell Fund for tuition assistance
$20K from the Callison Foundation for computer lab purchases
$25K from the Carl & Celia Berta Gellert Foundation to fund tuition assistance
Several four-figure gifts to purchase Wish List items in the Freshman Intensive Program, Science, and Mathematics Department
Several five-figure gifts for the Principal's Scholarship Fund and the Annual Fund
Many, many alumnae, past parents, and current parents who renewed their support of the Annual Fund

As you can see by the displayed pyramid, it will take gifts of all sizes to reach our goal this year. Parent participation is vital to our ability to convince others to also contribute to your daughter's education. Please consider making your contribution soon before the annual phone-a-thon begins later this month.

Calendar year 2009 tax receipts will be mailed out so that you have them prior to January 29th.

On behalf of all of our students, thank you for your generosity!

If you would like to discuss making a contribution or find out ways to make your gift, please contact me at 650.595.1913, ext. 370, or jclemens@ndhsb.org.

DOWNLOAD 2009-2010 Annual Fund Brochure

Misplaced your pledge form?

Click here for a new one.

Please remind your daughter to keep her Scheduling Meeting with her counselor.

From late January through mid-March, all students currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 will meet individually with their counselors to program the courses that they will take next year. At these meetings, the counselors will discuss future placement in light of past academic performance. (Placement, determined by current teachers, is based on students' first semester grades). We also discuss graduation requirements and plans for college. Students are encouraged to undertake as challenging a curriculum as they can without over-burdening themselves and to consider building the kind of solid extracurricular resume that will help them in their college application process.

Actual school and student schedules are not constructed until much later in the year: During this process, we will be entering students' course requests. If you would like to review your daughter's options, please access our Course Catalog online through the NDB website.

Your daughter will bring home her Student Course Request form for you to review and sign. If you have any questions about your daughter's placement, please contact her counselor.

Freshmen - Mrs. Calamba

Sophomores - Ms. Winifred Montgomery

Juniors - Mrs. Roseanna Montgomery

Special Needs Students - Ms. Winifred Montgomery

From the Desk of the Assisant Principal

This letter is to remind you of a change in policy made in November 2008 regarding student use of party buses and stretch limousines at the 2009 Winter Formal and Prom and at all formal dances thereafter. read more

Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Do you really know what you are drinking?

GolfBanner Public health and safety officials have become alarmed by the newest entry into the world of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic energy drinks are prepackaged beverages that contain not only alcohol but also caffeine and other stimulants. Earlier this year, 29 state attorneys general signed a letter to Anheuser-Busch expressing their concern about Spykes, an alcoholic energy drink packaged in colorful 2-ounce bottles with obvious appeal to youth. read more

Download the Report

Winter Formal Tickets Online Ticket Sales

GolfBanner

The winter formal dance is January 29, 2010! The theme this year is Cirque du Soleil.

Moore Pavilion
8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Tickets for this magical night start at $30.00 per person or $60.00 per couple, and may be purchased online beginning Monday, January 18.

The Father-Daughter Dance is right around the corner.

Friday, February 26, 2010
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Hey Dads! The Father-Daughter Dance is right around the corner. This is always a fun event! Tickets are $25 per dad/daughter couple and will be on sale, through the Notre Dame website, beginning February 1. Moms, we need your help too! We need moms for hospitality, baked goods, decorating, set-up, and clean-up. Please contact Theresa Vallez-Kelly if you would like to help at tvallez@ndhsb.org.

PowerSchool Reports

GolfBanner

If your daughter's PowerSchool reports indicate that she has any grades below C- at this point, here is a link to some important information.

Attention Seniors and Senior Parents

NOTE ON GRADUATION DIPLOMAS

We are preparing the order for the diplomas and advise you that the name on the diplomas will be the name students are registered as at Notre Dame. Report cards show the student's registered name.

BLUE FORM UPDATE

GolfBanner

In April, your daughter will receive the Award/ Scholarship Form and Final Transcript Request (Blue Form).

Please ask your daughter to keep all letters that indicate she has received a college, local, or community award or scholarship. She must submit a copy of the letter(s) with the Award/Scholarship Form to ensure that the award and the scholarship information are accurate for the Graduation Program and Academic Awards Celebration. She must also submit the Final Transcript Form to secure her acceptance to the College/University she will attend next fall.

Attention Juniors

GolfBanner Revolution Prep will be holding comprehensive SAT Courses leading up to the March 13 SAT Date. The starting date is January 30 - March 9 at Notre Dame High School. If you have any questions regarding the course, call 1-877-REV-PREP (738-7737).

NDB Financial Aid Forms
Now Available

This is a reminder that financial aid forms are now available online at http://www.ndhsb.org/Admissions/financial_res.html.

For hard copies of these Financial Aid forms, please contact the Business office at 650-595-1913, ext. 230. Please note that you have to apply for financial aid annually for eligibility.

All forms must be received by February 5, 2010.

Families applying for financial aid must file their tax returns early and follow the proper instructions and timelines for consideration and eligibility. Because of the school's limited financial aid, resources will be awarded to those who submit their complete applications on time.

Mark Your Calendars
Annual Catfight

GolfBanner

Mark your calendars for the Boosters' Annual Basketball Catfight on Saturday, January 16 against the Presentation Panthers. This is the spirit event of the year featuring our Varsity Basketball team, Cheerleaders and Spirit Club, and a special appearance by the Serra band.

NDB Invites Parents and Past Parents to the Annual Pre-Game Reception.

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
NDB Conference Room

Please RSVP by 1/14/2010 to dseveri@ndhsb.org or call 650.595.1913 ext. #446

Boosters' Annual
Soccer Catfight is
Saturday, February 6
11:00 a.m.

Freshman Presentation

The drug and alcohol video presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19 during collaboration. As requested by fellow freshman parents, students will be watching a drug and alcohol video and participating in a question and answer session facilitated by Mrs. Calamba.

Although some students have already viewed one of the videos, it is required to view both so attendance is mandatory. Also, if you have not yet fulfilled the parent requirement to view a video or complete the online workshop, your daughter will not be allowed to purchase winter formal tickets. Please contact Mrs. Calamba at ecalamba@ndhsb.org if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,
Elaine Calamba
Counselor
Notre Dame High School, Belmont
______________________________
(650) 595-1913 x 263
(650) 595-2116 (fax)

Campus Ministry Corner
Senior Overnight

SENIOR SOJOURN
Wednesday and Thursday, January 20 - 21

Please visit: http://www.ndhsb.org/Campus%20Ministry/Retreats.html for more information or to sign your daughter up!

GolfBanner

The SENIOR SOJOURN is a two-day and one-night retreat for seniors only. Away from the business of NDB life, participants will be given the opportunity to look at their journey thus far. Who have they become? Who do they hope to be? What part does God play along their journey? The retreat is led by alumnae and Campus Ministry.

If you have any questions, please contact Kay Polintan at kpolintan@ndhsb.org or 595-1913 x325

Spring Immersion Trips

Students can now apply for the upcoming spring immersion trips:

Tenderloin Immersion Experience
(March 31-April 3, during Holy Week)
*Open to all students

GolfBanner

For three days and three nights, students will have the opportunity to see San Francisco as they have never it seen before. Serving alongside Franciscan Brothers and volunteers, students will serve the Tenderloin community with St. Anthony Foundation. Following their service experience, students will be able to reflect on their experience with adult faculty members at the Youth Hostel in San Francisco.

Los Ni�os Mexicali Immersion Experience
(during Easter Week)
*Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Are you ready for the experience of a lifetime? Travel with a group of NDB students to Mexicali, Mexico. We will visit the U.S./Mexico border, learn about border and immigration issues, experience Mexican culture and food, visit an orphanage, play with the children, and work on community development projects.

Faculty/Staff Wish List

For Visual Arts Department

2 Portable Desktop Sewing Machines

For Religious Studies Department

4 Klipsch iGroove SXT iPod speakers
4 ELMO TT-02RX Teachers Tool document cameras
4 InFocus Learn Big IN2104EP DLP Projectors

For Science Department

2 electronic balances: capacity 400g readability 0.01 g @ $450.00 each
5 Macbooks @ $950.00 each 3 FUNDED!
Mobile Locker/storage cabinet for laptops
Elmo TT-02RX
White lab coats- S, M, L and XL with a company logo if desired

For Video Production - Tiger TV

3 video camera lapel microphones (for interviewing) @ $200.00 each
1 HD Video Camera (for special projects/features) @ $3,200.00 each
1 I Mac for Tiger TV Studio (for music, research, movie projects) @ $1,500 each
1 printer for Tiger TV Studio @ $300 each

For Freshman Intensive Program

LCD projector (DLP) with Cart
Computer Stations (3) 2 FUNDED!
Blk/White Laser Printer
ELMO

For Institutional Advancement

HD camcorder w/ USB connectivity (or similar)
external microphones w/ mini plug

If you are able to contribute one of these items, please contact:

Julie Clemens
Director of Institutional Advancement
jclemens@ndhsb.org
650.595.1913, ext. 370

College Counseling Corner

Senior families applying for Financial Aid, please click here for more information.

College of the Month:
Regis University, Colorado www.regis.edu

GolfBanner Regis College is a liberal arts college at the base of the Rocky Mountains in always sunny Colorado. It is a small, private, Catholic, Jesuit liberal arts college that offers diversity, personal attention, and generous scholarships and financial aid.

We Need Your Donations!

Thank you! The donations are rolling in, but we still need your help! Don't know what to donate? Get creative...open up your Blackberry and find someone famous or interesting in your contacts - we'll help coordinate an experience that will sell! Consider a week or weekend getaway to your vacation home or the home of someone you know...a round of golf at your club...a special party or themed dinner for a small group hosted in your home...the latest in electronic gadgets...theatre, concert or sporting event tickets... whatever your connection, we'll make it work! And don't forget a personal request goes a long way when asking your favorite retailer, hairdresser, manicurist, masseuse or professional services provider to make a contribution of goods or services. Many businesses in this economy are looking for new clientele...a donation to the auction can help make that connection! Donate an Item.

Extra Auction Donor Solicitation letters and forms are available on the bench outside of Room 105.

Donation Solicitation Letter

Auction Donor Form

Volunteers Needed!

Can you lend a hand? A donation of your time is equally valuable to the success of the auction! Volunteers are needed for packaging silent auction items at school on weekends starting Jan 23. Volunteers will also be needed to set up and decorate at the hotel on Friday, February 19 and to provide assistance during the event on February 20 including greeting and registering guests, supervising the silent auction tables and checking out guests at the end of the evening. Contact Shelley Pavela, Auction Volunteer Coordinator, at sfpavela@gmail.com if you are interested. Shelley or the appropriate Auction committee chair will also be contacting those who have already volunteered to help in the next week. Thanks for your support!

Fund-a-Need

The fund-a-need auction item will be to classrrom painting! The fund-a-need offers all potential donors to bid at various amounts, so that even if the competition out-bids them on their favorite live auction item, they can still support the school. We will produce a video to showcase before and after classrooms (thanks to the Levine brothers!). We will be offering one year naming opportunities for the classroom sponsorships, and groups of bidders can join together. More information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Rapid Notifying System - UPGRADE

Due to a recent upgrade to the Rapid Notifying interface, we ask that parents re-register their information by going to the Notre Dame Home Page at www.ndhsb.org.

In collaboration with the Belmont Police Department and Belmont Safe Schools, Notre Dame highly recommends that parents register to become a member of our Rapid Notifying System. Go to the Notre Dame Home Page at www.ndhsb.org, log in your cell phone number, and follow the instructions. This message system will be used in the event of any school emergency or disaster.

Back issues of the Notre Dame Parents' E-bulletin are available in PDF format at http://www.ndhsb.org/Parents/ebulletin/ebulletin-archives.html