Notre Dame also offers students the opportunity to become involved, to make new friends, and to take an active role in building a strong Christian community. Students produce a television broadcast (Tiger TV) and publish a monthly newspaper (Tiger Tracks), literary magazine (From Pen to Paper), and a yearbook (The Torch).
Academic Competitions
- American Mathematics Competition (AMC) and American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME)
All Notre Dame honors mathematics students participate in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC), which is a 75 minute multiple choice test. Students who perform well enough on that test are invited to take a rigorous three hour, fifteen question test called the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). The AIME is the second in a sequence of mathematics contests which leads to participation in the USA Mathematical Olympiad.
- WordMasters Competition
WordMasters is a national competition for high school students requiring close reading and analysis of many different kinds of poetry and prose. The competition requires participation in four challenge meets held throughout the school year. The Gold Division section is offered to students currently enrolled in grades eleven and twelve, the Blue Division section is offered to students currently enrolled in grades nine and ten.
- Annual Poetry and Essay Contests
Awards Program
An Academic Awards Celebration for students in grades nine through twelve
is
held annually to recognize their outstanding achievement in subject areas
determined by individual academic departments. Students who have entered
and
won special contests or academic competitions are also recognized. In
particular, we honor seniors who have achieved honors at entrance,
received
college scholarships or special college recognition, and who have done
outstanding work in individual classes.
Broadcasting
Video Production provides students with a basic understanding of the technology of video as an information medium and some of the ways in which it is created to achieve its desired effect on an audience. The students master and utilize the technical and professional skills required to design and edit a variety of video features. Students also assume the responsibility to produce the advisory period news broadcasts (Tiger TV and TV Studio) and in doing so master all the technical skills needed for these productions.
Publications
Students publish a monthly newspaper (Tiger Tracks), literary magazine (From Pen to Paper), and a yearbook (The Torch).
Honor Societies
The National Honor Society
(NHS) is composed of qualified sophomores,
juniors, and seniors who are elected by a faculty Council for exhibiting a high level of leadership, character,
and service. Students need a 3.5 cumulative GPA for admission, and they must maintain a 3.0 cumulative
GPA in order to remain a member.
The California Scholarship Federation (CSF)
is a state honor
society whose members are second semester sophomores, juniors and seniors. Second semester freshmen and first
semester sophomores may be associate members. In order to qualify for membership, a student must earn ten points
in a maximum of five classes. Classes in excess of five are not counted. Students must apply each semester
for membership in CSF.
Life Membership in CSF is given at graduation to those members who have maintained membership for four out
of the eight high school semesters.
The Tri-M Music Honor Society
is composed of outstanding music students who
have demonstrated excellent abilities as performers and strong leadership skills within their ensembles. Each student,
selected by the faculty sponsor, must have completed at least one year in a school-sponsored music class, maintained
a “A” grade in music, and maintained at least a 2.7 GPA in her academic subjects.
Intersession
The purpose of Intersession is to provide students with educational experiences not usually found in a classroom setting. It is also an opportunity for faculty and students to share and /or explore mutual interests on or off campus. Intersession is generally held every other year as the calendar permits.
Close-Up Program
Students participate in an annual program called “Close-Up” sponsored by the Social Sciences Department. The purpose of Close-Up is to give students first hand experience and knowledge of government in action! They travel with a faculty advisor to Washington, D.C. for one week and visit various government officials (calendars and schedules permitting) and witness Congress in session.
Junior State of America
tudents can participate in the Junior State by joining the Notre Dame High School chapter. JSA chapters are the center of nonpartisan political activity and awareness on campus. Typical chapter activities include student debates of controversial issues, guest speakers, mock trials, candidate debates, and voter education and registration drives. Each chapter can participate in daylong Saturday conferences and weekend conventions featuring student debates, informal discussions, simulations and keynote addresses by prominent public figures. High school students run Junior State chapters, conferences, and state conventions. By running their chapters, regional conferences and state conventions, Junior State members learn the art of self-government. By facing the challenges of planning and putting on their own programs, students make decisions and see the consequences of those decisions. The organization’s educational philosophy is that democracy must be experienced to be fully appreciated.