The ND Update - 4/8/11

On Friday, April 1, Campus Ministry members played big brother and sister to preschool students from St. Andrew's School in Bridgeport. Students went to Sesame Street Live at Harbor Yard and both groups enjoyed seeing Big Bird and his friends. Participants included Taylor Borsari '11, Amanda Marini '12, AJ Gallucci '11, Natalie Cafasso '11, Brittany Santos '12, Geissy Bintencourt '12, Laura Pekar '13, McKenzie Stone '13, Paige Vichiola '11, Caitlin Shea-Vantine '11, Caroline Viteretto '11, Caitlin Dudek '13, Dan Murphy '13, and Dan Tozzi '12.

On Sunday, April 3, members of the girls' basketball team enjoyed a night of fellowship going to an NBA game. The girls watched the New Jersey Nets play the Miami Heat. Participants included Bianka Bell '12, Tori Wainwright '12, Monique Plummer '11, Destiny George '11, Nicole Negron '11, Annie Sutila '11, and Bonnie Broome '11.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the BOLD Food Drive during the last two weeks. Campus Ministry members will be sorting and distributing the collected items at local food pantries on Saturday morning.

Easter Egg Donations Needed

Donations are still needed for the annual Easter egg hunt Campus Ministry sponsors each year for a local elementary school class. Plastic eggs and prizes/goodies to put inside of them are needed by Wednesday April 13. Please bring donations to Miss Medoff's office in the chapel.

Service Reminder

Service Hours are past due! If your student receives an "F" on their report card later in the week, please make sure they turn them in as soon as possible to remedy the grade for their fourth quarter report card.

Notre Dame Spring Open House

Notre Dame will host its annual Spring Open House on Sunday, May 1, beginning at 2:00 p.m. If you know a sixth, seventh or eighth grader (or a transfer student) who is interested in a Notre Dame education, please extend an invitation for them to attend this open house.

Key Club Easter Drive

It's time for the Key Club's annual Easter Drive. We are looking for donations of medium-sized Easter baskets, Easter grass, cellophane for larger baskets and ribbon, along with chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, plastic Easter eggs and little fillers. Please send your donations in to school to Ms. Casceillo. We are hoping once again to make 200 Easter Baskets for needy children. Cash donations are also greatly appreciated. Any help, large or small, is greatly appreciated. We will be putting our baskets together April 14th and 15th. Please email Ms. Casceillo at Casceillo@notredame.org if you can help.

Arts, Crafts and Music Show

There will be an Arts, Crafts and Music show in the Notre Dame cafeteria on Saturday, May 21 from 2 to 5 pm. There will be live music by Anne Barns and Mike Dotolo, an acoustic duo, and there will be art for sale. We will be showing pieces by students and faculty, there will be a jewelry demo and a photo show. Half of the proceeds from sale will go to Notre Dame. For more information, contact art teacher Jim Lombardo at lombardo@notredame.org.

ND Art Club

The ND Art Club is looking for new or used (clean and non-stained) socks. Club members will be using these items to create Sock Animals that will be donated to the YALE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL in New Haven, CT. Sock donations can be dropped off in room 302A between 8:30 and 12:30 every day.

The ND Art Club is open to all ND students. Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 12 at 1:50 in room 302A. We will be painting and stuffing an Easter Dinner Basket. Come join us and bring along a non-perishable dinner item!

Register To Vote at ND

The Fairfield Registrar of Voters will be at Notre Dame during lunch (10:15-11:30) on Wednesday, April 13 to register new voters for the upcoming town/state/federal elections in November. All students who will reach their 18th birthday by next election day (November 8, 2011) are eligible to register. Everyone can register, regardless of where you live. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Marzik.

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra Open Rehearsal

The Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra is having an open rehearsal on Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at the Roger Ludlowe Middle School Music Area. Come hear and see the five GBYO ensembles in rehearsal!!

Everyone is welcome, especially instrument players in grades 5-12 (Fall 2011), parents and teachers. Students will receive a complimentary ticket to the GBYO Spring Concert on May 15.
For information, please call 203.452.0003 or visit www.gbyo.org.

Youth Forum

The Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk will be hosting a Youth Forum on "Youth Voice on Climate Change" on Sunday, May 1 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. for students between 12 and 18 years of age. The students will serve as moderators and panelists, creating an open dialogue with audience members. The program is free of charge but reservations are required. Email danielle@steppingstonesmuseum.org for further information.

Volunteers Needed for the 2nd Annual Lupus Foundation Walk

Mike Ganino, Class of 1987 is chairing the 2nd Annual Lupus Foundation Walk for Lupus Now at Westfield Trumbull Mall on Sunday, May 1.

Mike is looking for 30-40 volunteers for the day of the walk. All money raised will help local support groups, fund education and research and advance the overall mission of the Connecticut Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. Anyone interested in volunteering or if you know of someone who may, please contact Mike at Mikeg@dhls.com. Volunteer jobs include:

Before the Walk:

- take some posters, postcards or lawn signs to help spread the word

- know someone that may consider sponsoring food or goodie bags items promoting their businesses

- know of students/scouts in need of community service hours that may want to help out

- know of any college groups or companies searching for a worthy cause to create a MEGA-TEAM?

- help stuff goodie bags the day before the walk for one hour

- join the walk, create a team

Day of Walk:

- help us set up tables and chairs

- greet, register, collect donations, pass out T-Shirts, incentive prizes, goodie bags

- pass out water and snacks to walkers

- face paint or pass out balloons to children

If you would like to make a donation to the Lupus Foundation please click here.

Attention High School Bands!

The Connecticut Association of Schools is sponsoring a BandJam on Friday, May 20 at Darien High School, featuring the top high school rock bands from across the state. Click here for further information.

Sister Marion Rielly Scholarship

Applications continue to be available for the Sister Marion Rielly Scholarship for current freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Qualifications for this $2,000 scholarship include: Christian dedication, Excellence in leadership, Academic endeavor, Service to school and community, Participation in the arts, Extra-curricular participation. Applications are available in the main office and are due by Wednesday, May 25, 2011.

Teen Film Festival

The Easton Community Center is sponsoring a Teen Film Festival at the end of June. Area students are encouraged to submit films of up to 10 minutes in length by May 27. Complete information and entry forms can be found by clicking here.

Care Club

The Care Club's Lenten project began on Ash Wednesda 0.6311475409836066

y and could use your assistance. We are looking for cell phones people no longer need - in good or even unusable condition. They will be reconditioned to 911 numbers and given (free of charge) to women who live in dangerous situations. If wires and battery packs are available, we accept them, also. Items can be left in the library.

Drama Club News

Props Needed

The Beauty and Beast set design/prop committee is looking for metal beer steins. If you can help, please contact Theresa Marzik at marzik@notredame.org.

Tag Sale

Spring is almost here and that can only mean one thing -- it's time to start your spring cleaning. Clean out your closets, attic and garage and making money! The Notre Dame Drama Club will be hosting a Tag Sale on Saturday, April 9 from 8 am - 3 pm in the Notre Dame parking lot. Reserve an 8 foot table for $25 and keep the profits from your sales. Remember one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Character Breakfast

On Saturday, April 30 from 8:30 - 11:00 am the Notre Dame Drama Club will be sponsoring a Beauty and the Beast Character Breakfast. Tickets are $5.00. The children's menu will include cold cereal, french toast sticks, and munchkin donuts. The adult menu includes bagels and coffee. Spread the word and bring your young children, nieces, nephews, cousins, & grandchildren. Pictures with the cast will also be available.

Beauty and the Beast

The Notre Dame Drama Club is proud to present Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Friday, May 6th (8 pm) and Saturday, May 7th (2 pm and 8 pm) at Sacred Heart University's Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are now on sale. Ticket forms are available on the ND website (www.notredame.org). Click on the Beauty and the Beast link.

If you would like information about the tickets for Beauty and the Beast, reserving a table for the tag sale or getting tickets for the Beauty and the Beast Character Breakfast, please contact the Notre Dame Advancement Office at 203-372-6521 or marzik@notredame.org.

Notre Dame's Annual Raffle

Raffle tickets were mailed home to each family. Prizes this year are something everyone can use: CASH! You could be the winner of $2,000, $1,000 or $500. Each family is asked to sell twenty tickets. By helping to support Notre Dame's raffle, you are also supporting our school. Please make every attempt to sell your tickets. The drawing will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 3:00 pm. If you need additional tickets, please contact Theresa Marzik at 203-372-6521 or marzik@notredame.org.

Notre Dame Golf Tournament

Are you ready for another great golf event? It's time for players, sponsors, teachers, families and supporters to help raise funds for Notre Dame High School in the 10th Annual Bob Shea Memorial Golf Tournament! This year's tournament will take place on Monday, June 27th at the beautiful Redding Country Club in Redding, CT. For more information about playing in the tournament or sponsorship, please contact Theresa Marzik at marzik@notredame.org or at 203-372-6521 ext. 38 or click here for golf brochures.

Class of 2000 Fundraiser

The Class of 2000 is holding a fundraiser on April 29 at Murphy's Law in Bridgeport at 8 pm. The fundraiser is for the Tom Brown scholarship. A 2000 Notre Dame graduate, Tom was killed while serving in the military in Iraq. Food and drink specials will be offered. Donations will be taken at the door.

2011 Better Business Bureau Student Award and Scholarship Award

The CT BBB Student Ethics Scholarship Award recognizes a secondary school student who personifies high ethical standards through leadership, community service, overall academic history and personal integrity. A panel of independent judges will select a Connecticut high school junior through evaluation of a written essay. The selected applicant will receive a $2,500.00 college scholarship. Click here for a description of requirements and the application form. The deadline for the application is Friday, June 24, 2011.

Father Bill's Barbecue Sauce

Father Bill's Best Barbecue Sauce which had its debut at the Garlicfest, is once again available. The unique combination of sweet maple syrup and tangy garlic in a specially blended barbecue sauce is the brain child of Father Bill and Judy Waldeyer and is specially prepared by her. Each 12 ounce bottle retails for $5.00. Contact the Advancement Office to make your purchase.

Easy Ways To Earn Money For Notre Dame

Don't forget to participate in our online fundraiser -- Notre Dame's SupportMall. This is an easy way to earn money for Notre Dame with every online purchase you make. The ND Shopping Mall offers the widest variety of products and special bargains from over 900 of the best online stores available. Click on the SupportMall link on the ND Website (www.notredame.org) or you can also log on to the support mall website - http://NotreDame.SupportMall.com.

Help Us Share Your Child's Good News ...

If you have information to share about any out-of-school achievements of your son or daughter, please e-mail that information to cipriano@notredame.org. We look forward to the opportunity to share your good news with the entire Notre Dame community.